Train or Fire? How To Handle Underperformance | Revenue Leaders Ep 316

Most revenue leaders chase numbers they can’t actually control.The best ones build systems that compound.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down why revenue is a lagging indicator — and how partnerships and ecosystems are becoming the most reliable way to drive predictable B2B growth.Our guest, Brian Williams, shares real-world lessons from building and scaling partner ecosystems, including what worked, what failed, and why most companies misunderstand partnerships completely.You’ll learn:Why you can’t control revenue — and what you can control insteadHow partner ecosystems drive pipeline, retention, and larger dealsWhy partnerships fail when treated like a short-term sales channelHow revenue leaders should think about 12–18 month growth strategiesHow founders, CROs, and sales leaders can build a partner-led GTM motionThis episode is for founders, CROs, revenue leaders, sales managers, and RevOps teams who want to stop chasing short-term wins and start building durable, scalable growth engines.If you sell complex or B2B deals, manage sales teams, or lead go-to-market strategy, this episode is for you.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):⁠https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/⁠Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch Full Episode on YouTube:⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleaders⁠⁠Follow us:⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/⁠🎧 New episodes weekly on Revenue Leadership, Sales Strategy, GTM, and B2B Growth.

Most deals aren’t lost because of price.They’re lost because sellers rush discovery.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down a real deal win where deep discovery, buying-group alignment, and a slower sales process beat larger, more established competitors.You’ll learn:Why deep discovery creates confidence in buying decisionsHow involving multiple stakeholders reduces deal riskWhy surface-level discovery kills dealsHow to slow down the sales process and win more consistentlyWhy it’s not what you sell — it’s how you sellIf you sell complex or B2B deals, manage sales teams, or lead go-to-market strategy, this episode is for you.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch Full Episode on YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleaders⁠Follow us:⁠https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/⁠💬 About Revenue LeadersA podcast for founders, sales managers, revenue operators, and GTM leaders who want to build a predictable pipeline, increase close rates, and run teams that operate with clarity, intention, and force.New episodes every Thursday at 3:00 AM Melbourne time.

Most sellers don’t miss their targets because of effort.They miss them because they don’t plan the work behind the number.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down how top sellers and sales leaders reverse-engineer their year, map activity to targets, and remove guesswork from execution.You’ll learn:Why targets alone don’t drive sales performanceHow to reverse-engineer your sales year into daily activityWhat to do when deals slip and results fall behindWhy controlling activity matters more than controlling outcomesHow top sellers plan for pressure instead of reacting to itIf you sell complex or B2B deals, manage sales teams, or want more consistent performance, this episode is for you.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch Full Episode on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleadersFollow us:https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/💬 About Revenue LeadersA podcast for founders, sales managers, revenue operators, and GTM leaders who want to build a predictable pipeline, increase close rates, and run teams that operate with clarity, intention, and force.New episodes every Thursday at 3:00 AM Melbourne time.

Most sales teams don’t have a training problem.They have a performance decision problem.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down whether sales leaders should invest in underperforming reps, when training actually works, and when it’s a waste of time.You’ll learn:Why training only works for willing repsThe difference between skill gaps and mindset problemsWhen underperformance is a leadership issueHow top teams invest in performance the right wayIf you manage sales teams or run a GTM function and struggle with inconsistent performance, this episode is for you.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch Full Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/wi-ij14-1RY🎧 Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1HXn...Follow us:https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/David Fastuca (@davidfastuca) | TikTok💬 About Revenue LeadersA podcast for founders, sales managers, revenue operators, and GTM leaders who want to build a predictable pipeline, increase close rates, and run teams that operate with clarity, intention, and force.New episodes every Thursday at 3:00 AM Melbourne time.

Most deals don’t die at the start.They die after the proposal is sent.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down why qualified deals stall, why buyers get overwhelmed, and what sellers must do differently once a proposal is on the table.You’ll learn:Why post-proposal is the most expensive stage of the dealHow information overload kills momentum-Why champions struggle to get internal buy inHow to guide buyers instead of “just following up”If you sell complex or B2B deals and struggle with stalled opportunities, this episode is for you.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lNDtAB7td6YFollow us: https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/ https://www.tiktok.com/@davidfastuca💬 About Revenue Leaders:A podcast for founders, sales managers, revenue operators, and GTM leaders who want to build a predictable pipeline, increase close rates, and run teams that operate with clarity, intention, and force.New episodes every Thursday at 3:00 AM Melbourne time.

Most sales reps are told the same thing every year:“Cold calling is dead.”But the truth is more uncomfortable — cold calling still works in 2026, if you understand timing, relevance, and buyer psychology.In this episode of Revenue Leaders, we break down the reality of modern cold outreach and why most reps fail before the conversation even starts.You’ll learn:Why cold calling still works (and when it doesn’t)What actually triggers buyers to take a meeting nowHow relevance and urgency beat volume every timeWhy generic email cadences are getting ignoredHow top reps use December to get a head start on next year’s pipelineThe real difference between random outreach and strategic outreachThis isn’t about scripts or hacks.It’s about understanding why buyers say yes — and why they push you to “next year.”⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleadersFollow us:https://www.instagram.com/davidfastuca/ https://www.tiktok.com/@davidfastuca💬 About Revenue Leaders:A podcast for founders, sales managers, revenue operators, and GTM leaders who want to build a predictable pipeline, increase close rates, and run teams that operate with clarity, intention, and force.New episodes every Thursday at 3:00 AM Melbourne time.

Most reps think buyers ignore them because “the market is quiet” or “it’s December.”In reality, buyers don’t respond because your message has no clear purpose, no relevance, and no reason to care right now.In this episode, we break down:The #1 reason buyers ignore your emails, calls and LinkedIn messagesWhy generic outreach is killing your reply ratesHow top reps create urgency and context in under 30 secondsWhat would actually make you take a meeting right now (and how to use that)Why December is a hidden advantage for serious reps, not a dead monthHow to use intent, timing and personalization to book more meetings with big orgsSimple messaging shifts that turn “no reply” into real pipelineThis isn’t another fluffy list of “sales tips.”It’s a real conversation about buyer psychology, cold outreach, and what high-performing B2B sales teams do differently to win meetings.⭐ Unlock free resources (templates, frameworks & prompts):https://coachpilot.beehiiv.com/Join the community & access 157+ templates, frameworks and mega AI prompts used by top revenue teams.Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@revenueleaders💬 About Revenue LeadersA podcast for founders, sales managers, SDRs, AEs, revenue operators, and GTM leaders who want to build a predictable pipeline, increase close rates, and run teams that operate with clarity, intention, and force.New episodes every Thursday at 3:00 AM Melbourne time.

Most sales teams think they have a strategy problem — but what they really have is a targeting problem, a culture problem, and a misalignment problem that quietly kills pipeline long before a rep picks up the phone.In this episode, we break down:• Why your ICP is unclear (even if you think it’s fine)• How high-performing teams build a 10-year roadmap• Why most above-the-line campaigns fail• What sales transformation actually requires• How to fix internal resistance and create momentum• The biggest mistakes leaders make in GTM execution• And the $100M analogy you’ll never forget.This isn’t another “tips & tricks” sales conversation.This is the real blueprint behind culture, alignment, and strategic execution in modern revenue teams.💬 About Revenue Leaders:A podcast for founders, sales managers, revenue operators, and GTM leaders who want to build predictable pipeline, increase close rates, and run teams that operate with clarity, intention, and force.New episodes every Thursday at 3:00 AM Melbourne time.

New Season Coming Soon

In this episode, we sit down with Michael , Chief Sales Officer at NHP Electrical Engineering, to explore why the way you sell is as important—if not more so—than what you’re offering. Drawing from his own journey from engineering to sales leadership, Michael sheds light on approaching customers with genuine value, the difference between transactional and professional selling, and how his engineering mindset influenced his sales approach.