Dave Kahle Wisdom

Practical Wisdom Blog by Dave Kahle

Podcasts and blog posts to help sales professionals and business executives sell better, lead better, and live better.

I’m glad you found your way here.

I’ve spent 30 years in the business trenches; it’s been full and fulfilling. In that time, I’ve been the number one salesperson in the country for two different companies in two different industries. I’ve written 13 books, spoken in 47 states and 11 countries, and personally and contractually worked with over 500 organizations. I’ve touched tens of thousands of people through my articles, podcasts, webinars and seminars.

On the personal side, my life has been full as well. Coleen and I have raised 5 children, helped with 19 foster children, and enjoy 14 grandchildren. I’ve been a father, a foster father, a stepfather, an adoptive father and a grandfather – and now you know why my hair is grey!

In all of this, my faith is very important to me, and provided me with my “Why” as well as a unique perspective.

As you might imagine, in all of this, I’ve learned a few things. I’ve made lots of mistakes and have had my share of success. And, while I’m still learning, I want to share with you some of the practical wisdom I’ve gained along the way.

You’ll find that some of my ideas will challenge you – as I tend to see things in non-conventional way. As you interact with what I share, you’ll find that some of your fondest beliefs and most comfortable paradigms may be in for revision.

Life Lesson

I was young, cocky and a bit full of myself when I had one of the most humbling experiences of my life, and learned a lesson that has stuck with me for decades. I had been the number one sales...

The lost art of saying “NO”

It seems like more and more business people have lost the ability to say no. See if this experience doesn’t sound familiar.  I had met with an individual, talked with him personally, and invited him to a small group meeting. ...

Capturing the Difficult Key Account

How do I sell to an account that is firmly in the hands of a competitor – a difficult key account? In one form or another, I hear that question at almost every sales seminar I teach.  It’s a great...

Character and business success

In a previous post, I wrote that qualities of character in the CEO were a more important indicator of business success than the business model. Two questions popped up following that statement: Why do you say that? Which qualities of...

Business Model or Leadership Character?

“Is there one business model that you would recommend to a budding entrepreneur?” That was the question a young man asked me recently. I reflected for a moment over the past 25 years, and answered this way: “No.  I’ve worked...

On Fielding a Directable Sales Force

Not long ago I was speaking at a national sales meeting for a large regional distributor.  The regional vice president for the company’s primary manufacturer was at the meeting, supporting the efforts of his big distributor.  At the coffee break...

Leverage – one key to taking your business to a higher level

Whether you are a small business person, or a professional sales person, you can utilize a powerful strategy to take your sales performance to dramatically higher levels -- leverage. Definition Leverage revolves around the idea of multiplying the effects of...

Sales Leaders Q & A: The right time for sales training

Question:  I wanted to do some sales training last year, but it just wasn’t the right time for it. We had too many things on our plate.  Looking at our calendar this year, I am coming to the same conclusion. ...

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