Tea and Timbits

In this episode, we toss aside the spreadsheets and strategy decks to talk about something more primal—like whether we can still function after a Spartan race or a surprise Swedish frost. We explore how keeping your body moving (even if just to the fridge) can lead to a sharper mind, better leadership, and fewer contracts that make you want to cry in legalese. We also poke fun at those hyper-polis...

Ever feel like your content plan is just a fancy spreadsheet collecting digital dust? In this episode, we explore why so many businesses struggle to build and stick to a content or branding strategy — and how to fix it before everything catches fire (metaphorically... hopefully). We share a real-world example of a top-tier company that hit rock bottom due to a missing sales plan, zero accountabili...

In this episode, we dive into the thrilling (yes, thrilling!) world of personalization in business —how to nail it without making people feel like they're being followed by a marketing drone. We share tales from the trade show trenches, wrestle with the fine line between helpful and creepy, and explore how to read the digital tea leaves your prospects leave behind. You’ll hear us break down: W...

From Milwaukee trade show floors to global maritime boardrooms, we reflect on what it really means to know your audience —and why that tired phrase doesn't cut it anymore. We chat about the power of segmentation beyond just industry buckets, the magic of micro case studies, and the real MVP of modern marketing: resonance . Plus, we spill the tea on how AI can help personalize messaging without...

In our (yes, we made it—cue the confetti!), we kick off our October theme: Content & Branding Strategies by diving headfirst into the wild world of mapping the buyer journey . If you’ve ever thrown up your hands mid-sales cycle yelling, “Why are they ghosting us?!”, this one's for you. We reflect on our own trade show tales (some glorious, some...not), break down why most buyer journeys re...

In this episode, we leap headfirst into fall — aka the “Business New Year” — and trade show season. We spill the beans on prepping for events, navigating awkward booth chats, and following up without sounding like a desperate ex. Andy shares a cautionary tale about a supplier who nose-dived from hero to horror story, reminding us all how fragile reputation can be. Meanwhile, we debate whether book...

It’s the Business New Year and we’re kicking things off with a globe-trotting topic—international expansion! This week, one of us is podcasting from a Polish hotel (with surprisingly good Wi-Fi), and we’re diving into the joys of taking your business beyond borders. We unpack everything from AI-enhanced productivity to why blindly opening a foreign office is the corporate equivalent of ordering su...

We’re back from our weather updates across the globe (you're welcome) to kick off the “Business New Year” with a bang—or at least with fewer bad pitches. In this episode, we dig into the surprisingly elusive art of customer experience and why your 20-slide company history isn’t winning you any deals. Andy shares a story of a pitch so generic it could've been written by a chatbot in 2011, a...

We’re declaring September the Business New Year and kicking off Q4 like it’s January 1st — minus the gym membership guilt and broken resolutions. In this episode, we talk about how to reset after the summer slowdown, re-energize your team, and approach the last quarter with purpose and momentum. Scott shares how a casual conversation with his wife turned into a full-blown account growth strategy (...

In this episode, we take on the sometimes awkward, often misunderstood world of probationary periods. Are they necessary checkpoints or just a corporate commitment-phobe’s way of saying “it’s not me, it’s you”? One of us thinks they’re essential for building trust, the other thinks they’re a lazy crutch for indecisive leaders. Spoiler: it gets spicy. We also share a hilarious cautionary tale invol...

In this episode of Tea and Timbits , we get a painfully relatable tale of legal déjà vu, where Scott finds himself buried in contract markup mayhem. Spoiler: ChatGPT didn’t save him, but it was close. Then we shift gears and dive into the real meat: how to onboard new sales hires by fostering collaboration between sales, marketing, and finance. We explore why alignment isn’t just HR’s problem and...

In this episode of the T & Timbits podcast, we finally tackle the meat of hiring effective salespeople. After an onboarding-first approach in the last episode, we now shift focus to recruitment—and oh boy, it's not about just getting anyone through the door. We talk about the critical (and often overlooked) difference between hiring for what someone has done versus what they can do in your bus...

This week, we ditched recruitment for a hot sec and dove headfirst into the wild world of onboarding. But not the “here’s your laptop, now good luck” kind — we’re talking mutual accountability onboarding . You know, that rare unicorn where both the company and the new hire actually know what’s going on. We unpack the difference between ticking boxes and setting up humans to succeed, share a “we al...

In this bonus July episode, we explore what it means to live in a state of constant evolution (and how a flat tire can be surprisingly enlightening). From late-night roadside reflections to the business lessons hiding in market stagnation, we talk about shifting mindsets from doers to leaders, and operators to guides. It's part strategy, part therapy, and—let's be honest—part coping mechan...

In this episode, we tackle the not-so-delicate balance between productivity and well-being—with a cold drink in hand and a not-so-healthy snack probably nearby. We reflect on how our physical habits (or lack thereof) affect our minds, our work, and our leadership. From beer-fueled guilt trips to dodging fast food temptations at youth baseball tournaments, we share personal stories and self-depreca...

Culture isn't what you preach—it's what you permit . In this episode of Tea & Timbits, we (Scott from steamy Toronto & Andy from the melting UK) talk about the collision of personal boundaries, burnout, and business culture. Andy admits he planned an amazing music festival and accidentally ghosted his own well-being. We ask: what happens when you bring that same energy—or lack of i...

We wore our Blue Jays colors and accidentally stumbled into one of our most useful conversations yet! This week on the Tea and Timbits podcast, we talk about: ⚾️ Celebrating wins (like beating the Yankees—sorry not sorry) 🧠 The value of a "clarity break" — 30-60 mins of unplugged time with just your thoughts and a pen 📉 Why busy ≠ productive 🤯 How leadership without clarity hurts cul...

This week on Tea & Timbits, we’re tackling that mysterious, all-powerful force known as “culture”—you know, the thing that happens when you're not in the room but still shapes how people act, collaborate, and react when someone leaves dirty dishes in the sink. We talk about: ✅ Why leaders always set the culture (even by doing nothing) ✅ How mindset becomes the message ✅ Why panicking in...

Ever wondered what happens after the storm? In this final episode of our crisis management series, we dive headfirst into the mysterious land of post-crisis recovery—where burnt-out leaders rebuild, reignite, and occasionally misplace an entire month (looking at you, July). We kick off with a story about the bizarre world of legal contracts—complete with edits so aggressive, they basically rewrote...

Crisis incoming… or is it? In this episode, we talk about early warning signals—the kind that tell you a deal is off the rails, your pipeline’s clogged, or your prospect is quietly ghosting you while you're still updating the forecast. We cover: - Why your inbox on Friday night isn’t a five-alarm fire (probably). - The sneaky signals: silence, repetition, and that one client you wine and dine...

Ever find yourself reacting like the building’s on fire, only to realize it was just someone yelling "matchstick"? 🔥 We’ve all been there. In our latest episode, we dig into one of the sneakiest traps in business life: confusing emotion with urgency. One of us even learned what a steel man argument was (and no, it’s not an Ironman triathlon). 🏃‍♂️ We cover: - How to pause the panic spi...

Crisis? What crisis? Oh… that one. This month, we're diving headfirst into the deep end: Crisis Management. We kicked things off by talking about leading under pressure — because nothing says “fun” like navigating chaos with a tight smile and a ticking clock. In our latest episode, we chat about: - Classic ways leaders make things worse- How to control the narrative- Why AI might be your new c...

Ever had a sales call where everything felt right… until the client hit you with “just send a quote”? 😅 In this week's episode of Tea and Timbits , we unpack the idea of “false friction” in sales—those moments where deals stall because we’ve assumed objections, leaned too hard on scripts, or forgotten that discovery is a two-way street. We share two real-world deal stories—one that got sticky...

Ever been on the brink of closing a big deal when someone says, “Actually… we need a 12% discount”? Us too. In our latest episode, we share how one logistics company turned a "take it or leave it" ultimatum into a collaborative triumph (complete with ESG dashboards and bonus cargo optimization). We dive into: - The importance of co-creating value beyond price - Why transparency beats pow...

Ever tried to close a high-value deal while wearing pajama pants and broadcasting live from Laundry Mountain? We have thoughts. 😬 This week on Tea & Timbits , we tackle the art (and chaos) of high-value negotiations in complex deals—virtually and beyond. From why your Zoom setup is make-or-break, to understanding the full value chain, to the underrated power move of swapping out your negotiat...