Owen Burns is a trusted advisor to CEOs and executive teams, with decades of leadership experience spanning Fortune 500 companies, Series A startups, and leading management consulting firms. Throughout his career, Owen has guided transformative cultural initiatives, supported IPOs, and delivered strategic impact across some of the world’s most respected organizations.

His work has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine, and he is widely recognized for helping leaders build high-trust relationships that drive meaningful results. Owen is the author of The Power of Love and The Love Switch, where he explores how courage, care, and authentic connection transform leadership and business outcomes.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of the Selling from the Heart Podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy are joined by Owen Burns to explore the powerful role that love, defined as courage, care, and authenticity, plays in sales and leadership. Owen explains that “selling from the heart” means having the courage to genuinely care for others, even when outcomes are uncertain.

He challenges the common belief that the opposite of love is hate, arguing instead that fear is the real barrier preventing people from building meaningful relationships and taking action. Owen introduces his relationship frameworks, Seven to Heaven and Five to Thrive, which help leaders and sales professionals build, strengthen, and sustain trust-based relationships.

The conversation also highlights the Love Switch, a practical technique for responding with intention rather than reacting from fear. By recognizing fear and reframing interactions with empathy and clarity, sales professionals can foster deeper engagement, healthier conversations, and stronger long-term business relationships.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Courage to care is the foundation of authentic selling and leadership.
Fear, not hate, is the primary barrier that prevents meaningful conversations and relationships.
The Seven to Heaven framework builds trust through truth, desire, courageous communication, humility, equality, commitment, and intimacy.
The Five to Thrive principles sustain relationships through inspiration, patience, kindness, forgiveness, and celebration.
The Love Switch process helps professionals respond intentionally rather than reacting from fear.
Accountability grounded in care creates growth and stronger relationships.
Loneliness and disconnection impact workplace performance and employee well-being.
Trust-centered leadership unlocks deeper engagement and stronger results.

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

Selling from the heart comes down to one simple thing: showing up with the courage to care.”

“The opposite of love isn’t hate—it’s fear.”

“Love is not the absence of leadership—love is the essence of leadership.”

“When leaders show up with love—courage, care, and clarity—they unlock deeper engagement and stronger business results.”

“Being nice and showing up with love are different things.”

“We need to flip the switch—react out of love rather than respond out of fear.”

“Sometimes we think the work ends when the relationship begins—but that’s when the real work starts.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Explore the secrets of heart-centered leadership and thriving workplace cultures with Culture from the Heart Podcast! Nominate a visionary CEO at www.culturefromtheheart.com!

Listen to Larry Levine’s Bestselling Book — Selling in a Post-Trust World! Now available on Audible! Transform your sales approach with insights that matter.

SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTube

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