#16 How to Hire Great Salespeople: Traits, Mistakes, and Best Practices

Why is it so hard to find great salespeople—and what separates top performers from everyone else? In this episode, Nicole Alicea sits down with Jim Marshall of Sandler Training Tampa Bay to break down what business owners need to know about hiring, developing, and leading high-performing sales teams.

Together, they challenge the stigma around sales and reveal what truly drives success in the profession—from mindset and communication to behavior and accountability.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The key traits of top 10% sales performers (and how to identify them)

• Why most hiring processes fail—and how to fix them

• The difference between transactional and consultative selling

• How to properly qualify (and disqualify) prospects

• Why referrals are the most underutilized growth strategy

• The importance of onboarding, training, and ongoing development

Jim also shares practical frameworks for improving sales conversations, avoiding common mistakes, and building a team that consistently drives revenue.

Whether you’re hiring your first salesperson or scaling a team, this episode offers actionable insights to help you find—and develop—top-tier talent.

Produced by David “Fingers” Bell and hosted by Nicole Valentin Alicea.

Here are some other episodes you might like

#38 Choose Power: Grit, Strategy & Legacy with Rosie Paulsen

Nicole sits down with entrepreneur, speaker, and “Medicare Matchmaker” Rosie Paulsen to unpack a life powered by grit, faith, and focus. From selling her first agency to leading Simple & Reliable Insurance Services (SNR), Rosie shares how moving from tactics without strategy to a true North Star grew her business 600% and how small, daily improvements compound into big wins. They dig into personal branding (why you are your company’s biggest asset), the DISC assessment and smart delegation, resilience after setbacks, serving the community (Florida Commission on the Status of Women), and building multigenerational wealth. Rosie also debuts her mantra: “Choosing is an attitude of power.” You’ll learn: Strategy vs. tactics: how to stop drifting and grow with intention Why authenticity beats polish (and attracts the right clients) Leadership that drives 100% producer engagement How to diversify your services and think legacy, not just income Connect with Rosie: rosiepaulsen.com • @therealrosiepaulsen Book: Ñeque:

Read More »

#10 Dr. Jerry Copeland on Running a Successful Pediatric Dentistry Practice

In this episode of Create Brand NV, Nicole Alicea sits down with Dr. Jerry Copeland, a pediatric dentist based out of Tampa, FL, to discuss the essential elements of running a successful pediatric dentistry practice. Dr. Copeland shares his experience purchasing an existing practice and integrating into the existing team while creating a new positive culture. We delve into the challenges Dr. Copeland faced and the innovative solutions he implemented to create a delightful patient and parent experience. From hiring best practices to marketing strategies, we explore the key components required to build and grow a thriving pediatric dentistry practice. Whether you’re a practicing dentist, business owner, or simply curious about what it takes to run a successful healthcare practice, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips you won’t want to miss!

Read More »