Welcome to The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, where we teach you how to build a business you love while enjoying your life. Join us as we share practical guidance and real-world wisdom on building scalable systems and growing your business the right way.
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Every B2B SaaS leader knows the frustration of poor decision-making. Despite your team working hard to build and market a great product, revenue growth is often inconsistent and unpredictable. In this show, Claire Suellentrop and Georgiana Laudi, co-founders of Forget the Funnel, break down how to evolve beyond guesswork by adopting the Customer-Led Growth framework - a systematic approach to help businesses understand their best customers, map & measure their experience, and unlock their be ...
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Understand what CQM Meditations are and how they help us access a new sense of self that, with work and practice help us access change in reality. Discover the healing power of Contemplative Intelligence Meditations or CQM’s as we call them for short. We have learned a lot over the last decades about the science of getting well. The more we learned and observed about healing the clearer the model became to us. We started to understand the similarities of depression to addiction and generalis ...
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"Scaling Smart: The Leadership Mindset Behind Business Growth" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 036
34:06
34:06
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34:06In episode 036, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson sit down with Vistage Master Chair and leadership coach Kurt Graves to explore what it really takes to grow as a leader—personally and professionally. Kurt shares powerful lessons on vulnerability, values, and the mindset shift required to scale well. Whether you're a CEO, founder, or future executiv…
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Why Great Teams Still Guess (And How to Fix It)
16:52
16:52
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16:52Your team is smart. You have happy customers (even if not enough). Your product delivers value. So why does execution still feel scattered? Why does your team default to chaos, gut feel, and endless feedback loops? This is Part 1 of a 3-part series for founders who are frustrated with how their teams are making decisions—and feeling like everything…
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"Turning Service Teams into Sales Champions" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 035
23:06
23:06
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23:06In episode 035, Sam Donaghey is joined by sales advisor and former Fast Slow Motion leader Barry Thomason to explore how service firms can train delivery teams to drive internal sales—without feeling pushy or salesy. Barry shares why internal sales is essential for sustainable growth, how delivery teams can spot and act on opportunities, and why se…
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How to Scale Sales Without Screwing Up Your PLG Motion
35:59
35:59
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35:59Most teams are messing up their opportunity to scale their product into higher-value deals—without even realizing it. They’re following someone else’s Product-Led Sales playbook. ICPs are fuzzy. Qualification is weak. Sales motions aren’t landing. Some teams are stuck in the messy middle: a PLG motion that’s working (sort of), but sales is jumping …
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"Fix Your Processes, Fix Your Business" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 034
48:22
48:22
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48:22In episode 034, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson are joined by Derrick Mains—also known as The Process Fixer—to explore one of the most overlooked growth tools in business: process. Derrick shares how mapping, measuring, and mobilizing your team around better processes can unlock innovation, drive profitability, and help leaders build a business th…
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"How to Find and Hire Superstars - Part 3 (Onboarding)" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 033
15:18
15:18
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15:18In episode 033, Sam Donaghey sits down with Michael Smith, Director of People at Fast Slow Motion, for part three of our series on hiring superstars—this time, focusing on what happens after the hire. Michael shares how FSM approaches onboarding with intention, starting before day one and continuing through the first several months with coaching, c…
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First Principles for Growth When You're Moving Too Fast (or Too Slow)
42:13
42:13
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42:13SaaS teams are falling into two extremes right now: AI-powered SaaS teams moving at a breakneck pace—roadmaps shifting weekly, product teams shipping nonstop, and marketing scrambling to keep up (while also getting bombarded by their own shiny objects). More traditional SaaS teams stuck in analysis paralysis—waiting for perfect data, overanalyzing,…
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"Boardrooms to Broadswords: How a Passion Became a Real Business" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 032
28:03
28:03
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28:03In episode 032, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson sit down with George Appling, entrepreneur, author, and Vistage chair, to discuss building a business that aligns with personal passion. George shares how he transitioned from corporate leadership to launching Sherwood Forest Faire, the lessons he learned about timing, self-awareness, and intentional…
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Positioning vs. Messaging: The Costly Mistake SaaS Founders Keep Making
48:27
48:27
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48:27Too many SaaS founders and GMT leaders confuse positioning with messaging—and it’s holding back their growth. If you’ve ever struggled with homepage copy, sales messaging, or team alignment, this episode is for you. Georgiana Laudi (Forget The Funnel) and April Dunford (author of Obviously Awesome and Sales Pitch) break down why messaging can’t wor…
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"From Legacy to Leading Edge: How Tech Powers Manufacturing Growth" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 031
33:41
33:41
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33:41In episode 031, Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson sit down with John Barnhart, CIO of American Cast Iron Pipe Company, to explore how technology is shaping the future of manufacturing. John shares how American Cast Iron Pipe is leveraging AI, automation, and data integration to drive efficiency, improve decision-making, and stay ahead in a competiti…
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How to Leverage Messaging as Your Moat in a Flooded Market
39:27
39:27
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39:27In today’s episode of the Forget The Funnel podcast, we tackle one of the biggest challenges facing SaaS companies: differentiation. With AI tools and products flooding the market and competition skyrocketing, standing out has never been this hard. But here’s what you might not know—your messaging can be your moat. In this episode we'll cover: Why …
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"Salesforce Spring '25 Release" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 030
38:20
38:20
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38:20In episode 030, Sam Donaghey talks with Zack Terry, Fast Slow Motion’s Director of AI, about the key updates in Salesforce’s Spring ‘25 release and what they mean for businesses. Zack shares how Agentforce, the rebranded Einstein Copilot, is expanding AI-driven automation for sales and service teams. They discuss multilingual support, AI-powered se…
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"Scaling a Business to Market Leadership With Salesforce - Part 2" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 029
18:36
18:36
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18:36In episode 029, John Burdett continues his conversation with Billy Claunch, VP of Sales and Marketing at Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, to dive deeper into how Brindlee leveraged Salesforce. Billy shares how Brindlee cut their financial close time from 60 days to mere hours, improved visibility across the business, and empowered leadership to ma…
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"Scaling a Business to Market Leadership With Salesforce - Part 1" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 028
23:32
23:32
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23:32In episode 028, John Burdett is joined by Billy Claunch, VP of Sales and Marketing at Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, to discuss how Brindlee scaled to become the largest used fire truck dealer in the Western Hemisphere. Billy reveals how Salesforce helped them manage 50 websites and 2,000 trucks annually—with the same staff that once handled 100…
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Unlock Hidden Revenue with Advanced B2B SaaS Segmentation Tactics
35:05
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35:05This episode of The Forget the Funnel Podcast is a must-listen for B2B SaaS founders and teams ready to unlock the power of segmentation. Gia tackles the critical importance of segmentation in driving targeted marketing, better customer experiences, and scalable growth strategies. If your team targets more than one customer segment but struggles to…
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"How HubSpot’s Commerce Hub Helps Businesses Grow" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 027
32:37
32:37
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32:37In episode 027, Sam Donaghey is joined by Fast Slow Motion’s Max Bevan and HubSpot’s Jack Coopersmith to explore how HubSpot’s Commerce Hub transforms operations for small and medium-sized businesses. They discuss reducing friction in the sales process, enabling faster payments, and leveraging unified data for smarter decision-making. Jack shares h…
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"Accelerating Business Growth With Salesforce" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 026
37:23
37:23
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37:23In episode 026 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Sam Donaghey sits down with Todd Coder, FSM’s Director of Partnerships, and Salesforce Area VP Jeff Roy to explore how Salesforce helps growing businesses scale efficiently. Drawing from Jeff’s experience as both a Salesforce executive and customer, they discuss the importance of consolidating systems…
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"The Best of Season 1" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 025
24:21
24:21
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24:21In episode 025 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Sam Donaghey is joined by Fast Slow Motion’s Director of People, Michael Smith, to look back at the best moments and key insights from season one. Together, they reflect on how to build a business you love while enjoying your life, highlighting impactful conversations from the season. Drawing from epi…
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How to Break Free From the ‘Data Rich, Insights Poor’ Trap
51:39
51:39
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51:39This episode of The Forget The Funnel Podcast, Gia dives deep on how we’ve become data-rich but insights-poor and the 4 growth stalls you’re likely experiencing as a result. If you're a SaaS founder or product manager bogged down in the weeds of hypothesis-mode and product growth challenges, you’ll want to tune in. In this episode, you’ll learn: Ho…
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"A Scalable Approach to CRM Integration" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 024
22:44
22:44
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22:44In episode 024 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Sam Donaghey is joined by Fast Slow Motion’s CTO, Chad Seales, to dive into the transformative power of system integration. They discuss how integration serves as a critical engine for automation, visibility, and scalable business growth when built on a foundation of well-defined processes. Drawing fr…
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"How Compensation Systems Create a Flywheel for Success" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 023
27:28
27:28
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27:28In episode 023 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Sam Donaghey is joined by Fast Slow Motion's founder and CEO, John Burdett, to discuss the transformative impact of well-designed compensation systems. They explore how such systems serve as a crucial alignment tool within a company, creating a meritocracy where employees are empowered to excel withou…
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"Salesforce Winter '25 Release" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 022
36:24
36:24
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36:24In episode 022 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, delve into the latest Salesforce 2025 release with host Sam Donaghey and Zack Terry, Senior Solution Architect at Fast Slow Motion. Discover how the new features and updates can transform your approach to managing key accounts and enhance your sales strategies. This episode explores several innovative…
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"How to Find and Hire Superstars - Part 2 (Interviewing)" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 021
29:29
29:29
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29:29In episode 021 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Sam Donaghey is joined by Fast Slow Motion’s Director of People, Michael Smith, and Chief Operating Officer, Matt Dyar, to discuss the importance of a well-structured hiring process in this part two episode. Learn how skills-based assignments, culture interviews, and scalable recruitment frameworks ca…
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How SaaS Teams Can (and Can’t) Leverage AI for Customer Research
22:33
22:33
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22:33AI is everywhere. We’re using it in our marketing, in our products, in our day-to-day task management. We’re all using it in one way or another. But when it comes to learning from and understanding your customers and what drives them to make decisions, proceed with caution. Here’s how we see it: To grow revenue, you need to increase conversions. To…
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"How to Find and Hire Superstars - Part 1 (Recruiting)" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 020
15:57
15:57
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15:57In episode 020 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, join Sam Donaghey, the Recruiting Director at Fast Slow Motion, as he shares insights from part one of a series on hiring superstars. Dive into the values-based recruitment strategy that balances the needs of both the company and candidates, promoting long-term success and satisfaction for both partie…
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Customer-Led Growth: The No-BS Way to Scale Your SaaS
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31:27
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31:27If you’re trying to scale your SaaS, but you’re stuck tweaking features, following best practices and listening to experts who know nothing about you, your customers or your product… you’re doing it wrong. In this no-fluff episode of the Forget The Funnel podcast, Gia and Claire cut through the noise and give you the exact steps for growing your pr…
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"The Scalable Business Framework - Part 2" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 019
19:04
19:04
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19:04In episode 019 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Michael Johnson explores how business leaders can ingeniously solve scaling challenges by implementing the Scalable Business Framework. Dive into this part two episode to learn the essential elements of processes, automation, and visibility, which are crucial for overcoming growth obstacles and achiev…
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"The Scalable Business Framework - Part 1" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 018
24:10
24:10
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24:10In episode 018 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Michael Johnson explores the essentials of the Scalable Business Framework, a strategic model crucial for business growth. Learn about integrating processes, automation, and visibility to streamline operations and enhance business scalability. Dive into practical insights on how to structure your busi…
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Features vs. Benefits: How to Maximize the Impact of Your Messaging
36:26
36:26
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36:26“Sell benefits, not features”. We’ve all seen the UserOnboard image of Mario + the magic flower = Super Mario. Or Popeye + spinach = super extra-strength Popeye. It’s the best practice that says you should focus on selling the benefits of your product, rather than the features. What if we told you that this is a best practice that’s lazy and risky?…
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"Is Your Company Investment Grade? - Part 2" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 017
20:59
20:59
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20:59In episode 017 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Zane Tarence and John Burdett return to dive deeper into the crucial role of company culture in attracting and retaining A-players. Explore how establishing rigorous standards and a people-centric approach not only nurtures talent but also drives investment-grade business growth. Discover actionable s…
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Your A/B Tests Suck: The Key to Running Effective Experiments
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30:56
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30:56SaaS teams use the best practice of A/B testing like a crutch for marketing, messaging and product growth decisions. And it makes sense. If you think about it, A/B testing something relieves you of so much burden. Not sure which headline is gonna resonate? Test it! Teammates have an (ahem, questionable) idea for how to improve conversions? Test it!…
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"Is Your Company Investment Grade? - Part 1" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 016
25:51
25:51
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25:51In episode 016 of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast, join host Sam Donaghey as he explores the intricacies of building an investment-grade business with Zane Tarence, Partner and Managing Director of Founders Advisors, and John Burdett, founder of Fast Slow Motion. Dive deep into the critical factors that make a company attractive to investors, includin…
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Forget Best Practices: How to add profitable friction to your product onboarding
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29:56
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29:56If you’re building a racecar, friction is bad news. But when you’re building an onboarding experience for your software product, things are a little more nuanced. This week, we’re dialing into why the pervasive push for a frictionless user experience in your product onboarding isn’t just overrated—it might be undermining your growth potential. At s…
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"Salesforce Summer '24 Release" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 015
28:30
28:30
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28:30In episode 015 of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Zack Terry, Senior Solutions Architect at Fast Slow Motion, unpacks the newest features of the Salesforce Summer '24 release. Discover enhancements designed to streamline user experiences and boost efficiency across Salesforce platforms. Zack highlights the critical updates to Salesforce Flows, emphas…
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"Why Sales is Your Biggest Service Opportunity - Part 2" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 014
17:18
17:18
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17:18In this episode of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Barry Thomason, sales expert and Entrepreneur in Residence at Auburn University, continues to share his expertise on refining sales processes. With extensive experience in sales and a pivotal role in building Fast Slow Motion, Barry discusses the importance of aligning sales processes with the buyer'…
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"Why Sales is Your Biggest Service Opportunity - Part 1" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 013
21:37
21:37
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21:37In our newest special Salesforce-specific episode of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Barry Thomason, sales expert and Entrepreneur in Residence at the New Venture Accelerator at Auburn University, delves into the nuanced world of sales as a disciplined craft. With a distinguished career spanning 38 years in various sectors of the IT industry, Barry o…
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"Why You Can't Ignore Second-Order Leadership" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 012
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30:36In episode 012 of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast, Jeff White, Chief Delivery Officer at Fast Slow Motion, dives into the power of second order leadership. Explore how going beyond basic task execution to empower your team can spur both personal development and organizational success. Gain insights on creating a robust, scalable business model by embe…
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"Why Leadership is a Non-Negotiable" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 011
24:16
24:16
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24:16In episode 011 of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast, discover why leadership is a non-negotiable trait when hiring and training employees for your business. Michael Smith, Director of People at Fast Slow Motion, explains how an ownership mindset among team members is crucial for a company's success. Learn effective strategies for identifying and cultiva…
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"How to Turn Your Idea Into a Business - Part 2" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 010
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15:41In Episode 010 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast, we delve deeper into crafting sustainable business models that endure over the long haul. John Burdett returns to share his expertise on building businesses that aren't just about survival, but are structured for longevity and success. This episode focuses on the importance of having a clear purpose, …
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Mobilizing Your Team to Turn Customer Insight into Revenue-Generating Outcomes
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25:22
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25:22How do you empower your team to make better decisions in their day-to-day work to increase conversions and drive more revenue? Here’s the thing: Most companies claim to be customer-led. They say things like, “We talk to our customers all the time,” “Our CSAT scores are great," and “User testing is part of our DNA.” But actual customer-led growth me…
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"How to Turn Your Idea Into a Business - Part 1" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 009
19:24
19:24
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19:24Tune into Episode 009 of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast, where President and CEO John Burdett delves into the myths and realities of transforming an idea into a thriving business. With candid insights, John discusses the importance of execution, intentionality, focus, and discipline over mere ideas, revealing how top businesses refine existing concep…
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Voice of Customer: The Practical Method for Using Your Customer's Words to Grow
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33:58
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33:58We need to talk about voice of customer — because there’s been a misunderstanding. Voice of customer isn’t just for huge companies. It’s also not an abstract, academic concept that’s too broad for teams to use. Done right, insights pulled from the words your customers use are practical and actionable. And they can help your team make better busines…
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"Leadership Lessons from Ranger School" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 008
20:01
20:01
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20:01Dive into a profound discussion on leadership with Brandon Landes, Client Director at Fast Slow Motion, hosted by Sam Donaghey. In this episode, Brandon shares his unique journey from a military officer to a business leader, shedding light on how leadership principles transcend environments to foster success in any domain. He reflects on his rigoro…
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Leveraging Product-Led Growth for Your Sales-Led SaaS
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31:26It’s rough out there in SaaS—everyone’s feeling it. Whether you’re trying to lower your acquisition costs, make the most of organic inbound interest, or better meet the needs of your technical buyers, you might be ready to take a more product-led approach to growth. But if you’re a sales-led organization, the transition to product-led can be bumpy,…
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"Give Your Business an Edge With A.I. - Part 2" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 007
15:19
15:19
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15:19Dive in as we continue the A.I. discussion in episode 007 of The Fast Slow Motion Podcast. Join FSM's Chief Technology Officer, Chad Seales, for a deep dive into Salesforce and HubSpot's advanced A.I. functionalities. Get the lowdown on adopting tech that actually moves the needle, with insights on securing your operations and unlocking innovative …
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Overcoming the Top SaaS Customer Research Objections
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35:13“We don’t need customer research; we already know our customers.” “Research takes too long.” “Is qualitative research even valuable enough?” These objections to customer research are super common—every day, founders and teams use these excuses (and oh so many more) not to learn more from their customers. Maybe you’re wrestling with these objections…
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"Give Your Business an Edge With A.I. - Part 1" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 006
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18:05Dive into part one of the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI) with Episode 006 of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast. In this episode, Sam Donaghey chats with Chad Seales, Fast Slow Motion's Chief Technology Officer, exploring the nuances and applications of AI in business. This episode covers a range of topics, from the basics of machine…
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How To Run Customer Interviews That Unlock Growth for Your SaaS
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26:35From competitive analysis to NPS surveys to UX research, research can help you grow your business and revenue. But you're wasting your time if you jump into those research types without a foundational understanding of your ideal customer and what they’re trying to accomplish. You’ll end up down unhelpful or misleading paths that leave you with more…
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"Building Trust With Vulnerability" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 005
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23:59Dive into Episode 005 of the Fast Slow Motion Podcast with guest Martha Cirulnick, Project Leader at Fast Slow Motion, as she reveals the secrets to building trust within teams. Host Sam Donaghey and Martha explore the crucial role of vulnerability and healthy conflict in fostering a positive work environment. Learn actionable strategies to cultiva…
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Unlocking Retention and Growth: How to Set Customer-led KPIs (Part 2 of 2)
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19:56One study found that 70% of people who sign up for a product log in once… and then never again. That’s why customer-led KPIs aren’t just about measuring when someone becomes a “customer” — they’re about measuring the critical customer outcomes that lead to high retention. To do that, you must focus on genuine customer value: getting them from their…
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