
Hosted by Larry Levine, Darrell Amy · EN

Jonathan Gardner is the Principal and Founder of J. Gardner Group, where he leverages decades of expertise in strategic sourcing and relationship management to drive profitability for organizations. His career includes working with global powerhouses like Starbucks and Dell, where he developed an acute understanding of navigating large corporations and fostering long-term partnerships.SHOW SUMMARYIn this episode of the Selling from the Heart podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy sit down with Jonathan Gardner to explore the art of strategic sourcing and relationship management. Drawing on his extensive experience with major brands, Jonathan reveals how sales professionals can establish genuine connections, navigate procurement processes, and avoid becoming just another number on a spreadsheet. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships across all levels of an organization, maintaining a strategic mindset, and engaging consistently for long-term success.KEY TAKEAWAYSBeyond Procurement: Build relationships across multiple departments to avoid relying solely on procurement.Strategic vs. Tactical Sales: Focus on strategic, long-term actions instead of short-term wins.Proactive Engagement: Start building connections before a need arises and nurture them consistently.Perceived Power of Procurement: Procurement’s influence is often overestimated, especially when you're an incumbent supplier.Relationship Mapping: Create a "power map" of connections within your target organization to strengthen your approach.Holistic Strategies: Engage procurement as part of a comprehensive sales strategy, not as an obstacle to overcome.QUOTES TO REMEMBER"Don't let yourself become equal." — Jonathan Gardner"Procurement has way, way less power than they want you to think they do." — Jonathan Gardner"Be the octopus. Engage every tentacle of your relationship strategy." — Jonathan Gardner"Treat this as an 'and,' not an 'or.' Engage, engage, engage." — Jonathan Gardner"Avoid assuming. It's easy to think you're being ghosted, but they're probably just busy and rude." — Jonathan GardnerConnect with Jonathan GardnerJonathan's LinkedIn.Connect with Larry and DarrellDarrell Amy’s LinkedInLarry Levine’s LinkedInSelling from the Heart websiteADDITIONAL 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!Order Larry Levine’s book, Selling in a Post-Trust World:Get it on Barnes & Noble and access exclusive content!SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL!Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTubeGet Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:Click Here for Your Daily Dose

Damon Lembi is the CEO of LearnIt, a company dedicated to empowering individuals through education to achieve their professional goals. After an early career pursuing Major League Baseball, Damon joined LearnIt in 1995, bringing his passion for growth and learning to the organization. As an advocate for lifelong learning, Damon attributes LearnIt’s success to surrounding himself with exceptional talent and learning from past mistakes. An avid reader and family man, Damon brings unique perspectives on leadership, culture, and personal development. His book, Learn It All Leader, explores the transformative power of a learn-it-all mindset for individuals and teams.SHOW SUMMARYIn this episode of the Selling from the Heart podcast, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy sit down with Damon Lembi, CEO of LearnIt, to explore how fostering a culture of learning can transform sales and leadership. Drawing insights from his book, Learn It All Leader, Damon highlights the power of humility, curiosity, and integrity in driving continuous improvement and building successful teams. Through lessons from his baseball career and leadership journey, Damon shares actionable strategies for developing adaptability, embracing feedback, and creating a collaborative, growth-focused environment within sales teams.KEY TAKEAWAYSAuthenticity in Sales: Building trust and genuine connections is critical for success in sales.Continuous Learning: Sales professionals must embrace lifelong learning to adapt to industry changes and meet evolving customer needs.Team Collaboration: Sales is a team sport that thrives on collaboration and shared support.Feedback Culture: Leaders who provide regular, constructive feedback foster growth and improvement in their teams.Reflection for Growth: Reflecting daily on wins and lessons learned helps sales professionals refine their approach and achieve consistent growth.QUOTES TO REMEMBER"Learning without doing is treason." — Damon Lembi"True selling is a team sport, 100%." — Damon Lembi"A learn-it-all isn’t afraid to make mistakes, try new things, and grow outside their comfort zone." — Damon Lembi"The more you learn, the more you earn." — Larry Levine"If you’re going to deliver meaningful value, you need to be somebody who’s continuously learning." — Darrell AmyFOLLOW THE CONVERSATION:Connect with Damon LembiDamon Lembi's LinkedIn.Connect with Larry and DarrellDarrell Amy’s LinkedInLarry Levine’s LinkedInSelling from the Heart websiteADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Order Larry Levine’s book, Selling in a Post-Trust World:Get it on Barnes & Noble and access exclusive content!SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE CHANNEL!Stay updated with the latest episodes and leadership tips: Selling from the Heart YouTubeGet Your Daily Dose of Inspiration:Click Here for Your Daily Dose

We live in a post-trust world where buyers are more skeptical than ever. Jeremy Miner, the founder, and Chairman of 7th Level Communications helps companies close more sales in less time by learning how to communicate to today’s cautious, skeptical buyers. We discuss how to approach our initial conversations with a neutral tone and how to build credibility with highly skeptical buyers. Make sure to check out the resources at www.salesrevolution.group. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.