Alex Valassidis shares his 35+ years of sales experience, including managing his own business in Greece and working for HP in Spain. He discusses overcoming sales fears, the importance of having a good business idea, the ethics of profit, and the role of empathy and charisma in sales success. He also founded VPARAGON, a sales outsourcing consultancy that helps SaaS companies sell their software in new local or international markets. Throughout his journey, Alex emphasizes the importance of empowering oneself with human skills, creating win-win situations, and seeking guidance from experienced professionals to achieve great sales success.

Volker Ballueder, a seasoned sales and digital marketing expert, shares valuable insights on adapting sales strategies for different countries and highlights the importance of rapport building. With over 20 years of experience, he has supported German and British companies in launching their products and services into foreign markets. He also introduces an AI-based software application called Spiky.ai that uses AI to analyze sales conversations, identifying areas for improvement. Ballueder emphasizes cultural differences in selling techniques between countries, including the UK's emphasis on rapport building, US CEOs taking the lead in sales pitches, and Germany's more direct approach with valued relationships. He stresses the importance of adapting sales strategies to different countries based on their unique cultural contexts and shares his expertise on building effective go-to-market strategies, outsourcing sales forces, and utilizing AI tools for better decision-making.

Get ready to dive into the world of sales and digital marketing with the expert insights of Volker Ballueder. In our latest episode, we explore whether cold calling still holds value in the era of social selling and delve into how revenue intelligence platforms and SaaS solutions can optimize sales cycles. From sharing his passion for telemarketing to discussing the importance of a good system and digital transformation, Volker offers valuable guidance for entrepreneurs and marketers alike. We also examine the benefits of social selling, the power of teamwork and collaboration, and the secret to maintaining work-life balance. Tune in to discover how Volker's expertise can inspire and inform your own strategies and approaches. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or a budding entrepreneur, this conversation is not to be missed. Listen or watch now on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and get ready to take your sales game to the next level!

A software developer's lament: the shift towards rental models is eroding control, flexibility, and innovation in proprietary software. As a paying customer, you're locked into a system where the vendor decides when and if you'll have access to their product, forcing you to adapt or abandon your investment entirely. With perpetual licenses becoming a rarity, the traditional path of buying a version with updates for a set period is giving way to unpredictable rental fees that can be more expensive than owning the software outright. With no clear reason to upgrade beyond minor UI tweaks, and features added without user input, it's increasingly difficult to see value in paying a subscription fee. The result? Developers are less inclined to innovate, and users are left to navigate the uncertainty of their software vendor's priorities. So, what can you do when faced with this situation? Take a stand, and let your voice be heard. Complain to the vendor, threaten to switch or abandon the product altogether. Or, take matters into your own hands by seeking alternative solutions through other vendors, open-source projects, or even supporting your preferred project directly through donations. The choice is yours – but one thing's certain: you won't have the luxury of just "taking the pill" and hoping for the best.