Blunt On Business

Your growth problem isn’t sales. It isn’t marketing. It’s misdiagnosis. In this Blunt on Business episode Rich Laster, Fractional CRO, founder, advisor, and 27-year sales leader reveals the hidden art every Seed and Series A CEO must master: diagnosing the real problem before you waste another quarter fixing the wrong one. Rich introduces his R.O.O.T.S. Diagnostic Model, a five-part system used by...

You built your company by selling its story. But if you’re still the one closing every deal, you’re not leading …you’re limiting growth! In this Blunt on Business episode, Rich Laster, Fractional CRO, 27-year sales veteran, and founder advisor reveals how to fire yourself as your company’s top salesperson without losing control of your message or your revenue. Drawing from decades of coaching CEOs...

Every founder loves to brag about a “warm” pipeline. But here’s the truth: warmth doesn’t pay the bills. In this Blunt on Business episode, Rich Laster, Fractional CRO and 27-year sales veteran, pulls back the curtain on the “Warm Pipeline” illusion that’s draining startup runway and misleading investors. Discover how to qualify your pipeline using the Readiness Quadrant and Deal Reality Checklist...

Hiring outbound sales talent too early can cost your startup time, money, and momentum. In this episode of Blunt on Business , Fractional CRO Rich Laster (GrowExpand.com) breaks down how to build outbound sales muscle the right way so founders can scale revenue without losing control of their message or market learning. You’ll learn: ✅ When to make your first outbound sales hire (and when not to)...

Outbound is changing …again! Today’s buyers don’t trust your sequence, your AI-driven personalization, or your “quick intro” messages. What they do trust are brands that show their expertise, respect their time, and lead with transparency from the first touch. In this episode of Blunt on Business, Rich Laster -Fractional CRO and founder of GrowExpand.com - reveals The Laster Outbound Trust Model (...

Inbound alone will not carry your startup past Seed. If you are relying on content and waiting for leads to arrive, you are already falling behind. The companies that scale to Series A and beyond integrate targeted founder-led outreach with inbound, creating the velocity and validation investors demand. In this episode of Blunt on Business, Rich Laster (Fractional CRO and founder of GrowExpand.com...

What separates companies that scale from those that stall? The answer often comes down to one thing: whether the sales organization can operate without the founder. In this episode of Blunt on Business , Rich Laster (Fractional CRO and founder of GrowExpand.com) breaks down exactly how to create a sales org that runs without your calendar -a hallmark of true scale and leadership maturity. You will...

What does a Fractional Chief Revenue Officer actually do, and why are so many growth-stage companies bringing them on board? In this episode of Blunt on Business, Rich Laster of GrowExpand.com breaks down why the Fractional CRO model is exploding in popularity, what separates it from traditional consulting or coaching, and the transformational impact it has on scaling companies. You’ll discover:•...

Are your sales slowing down, even though you have a great team and solid tools? The problem is rarely your people or your tech. It is almost always a breakdown in the Revenue Alignment Triangle: Message, Market, and Method. In this episode of Blunt on Business , Rich Laster (Fractional CRO and founder of GrowExpand.com) breaks down how Seed and Series A companies can realign their go-to-market eng...

Every founder reaches the same crossroads: should you pivot your offer or your audience? Make the wrong move, and you burn cash without traction. Make the right one, and you unlock growth. In this episode of Blunt on Business , Rich Laster breaks down why strategy is not just a plan but the difference between scaling and stalling. Drawing from Harvard Business Review research and 25 years in sales...

🧙🏾‍♂️You, great founder, must sell ...not, be easily sold! This video will help you understand exactly where AI belongs in a B2B company. For the article I mention, visit blog.growexpand.com📌 Get Your AI Driven CRM now at RichLaster.com

Most business leaders have 👀“a plan” but, too often, that plan is just a list of goals and tasks -not a real strategy. In this episode of🎙 Blunt on Business, I break down exactly what strategy is and isn’t, why so many businesses get it wrong, and how the right strategy can become your biggest competitive edge. 🧙🏾‍♂️ You’ll discover: • The key differences between a goal, a tactic, and a strateg...

Early-stage companies don’t fail because of lack of ambition🤑, they fail because of lack of discipline.🧘🏾‍♂️In this episode of🎙 Blunt On Business , Rich Laster breaks down why weekly pipeline rituals are the single most important habit for Seed and Series A founders who are serious about driving predictable📈 revenue growth, winning investor trust, and preparing for scale. You’ll Learn How To:...

Your pipeline is full, but your revenue is flat. 👀Sound familiar? In this episode of Blunt On Business , Rich Laster exposes one of the most damaging mistakes early-stage founders make: treating every lead like it matters equally. For Seed and Series A teams chasing real traction, mis-prioritizing leads doesn't just slow sales. It burns out your team, clogs your CRM with noise, and quietly er...

If you're a Seed or Series A founder planning to “coast” through the summer you’re leaving your next round on the table. In this episode of Blunt On Business , Rich Laster unpacks why re-engaging past clients is your single most overlooked growth move and how the most successful early-stage founders turn summer slowdowns into a pipeline of referrals, insights, and reactivation deals. These fiv...

If you’re a Seed or Series A founder treating summer like a slowdown, you’re playing yourself! In this episode of Blunt On Busines s, Rich Laster reveals the five revenue-building tactics top founders use in Q3 to outpace competitors who are waiting for the fall to get back to work. Investors are👀 watching, and those who execute now are the ones to get funded, scale faster, and finish 2025 strong...

If your Q3 plan is "survive the summer," you're already losing Q4.In this episode of Blunt On Business, Rich Laster breaks down the five strategic moves growth-stage founders need to make now to finish 2025 strong …especially in this flat, cautious market where capital is limited & outcomes are scrutinized. Whether you’re a Seed or Series A founder, investor-backed operator, or i...

You paid for the CRM. Your team is “using” it. So why are deals slipping through the cracks—and revenue stalling? In this week’s Blunt On Business live session, Rich Laster calls out the 3 most frequent CRM misuses destroying sales performance in B2B organizations. If your CRM isn’t actively helping you close deals and retain clients, it’s a liability, not a tool. This episode shows you how to fix...

You’re getting leads. You’re taking calls. But deals aren’t closing, and you can’t figure out why! In this Blunt On Business live session, Rich Laster breaks down the 3 silent killers of conversion that are keeping your sales pipeline bloated and your bank account stressed. Whether you’re a founder, CEO, or the one-person sales team, this episode will help you diagnose what’s really blocking your...

Today's episode needs no description!! We need to talk about your business revenue growth; how's it going? Are you closing deals? I urgently want to hear from you in the comments, or direct message via any of our links at RichLaster.com Getting your business on track before this summer is over demands action now!!!

Let’s cut the fluff! If your business isn’t generating enough real profit to outpace inflation, you’ve got no business taking a vacation. In this unapologetically honest episode of Blunt on Business , Rich Laster calls Founders and CEOs to rise above cruise-mode and leverage summer for strategic growth. Inside this episode: 🔥 Summer Slump = Strategic Goldmine: While others snooze, you work! Use t...

In this 🔥 episode of Blunt on Business, we're cutting through the fluff and focusing on what actually drives consistent sales : a Unique Sales Proposition (USP) that lights the way for your Ideal Client Profile (ICP). Here’s what we break down: 🧠 Your USP is the Magic Inside Your Value Prop – If your Value Proposition is the engine, your USP is the spark. Without it, you're just another...

In this Blunt on Business episode we’re getting tactical, and brutally honest about how to sell to both first movers and second movers in your industry. 🎯If you’re only targeting early adopters, or only going after cautious laggards, you’re leaving serious revenue on the table! Here, you’ll learn: 1️⃣ Understand the First Mover Mindset – These buyers want innovation, speed, and a competitive edge...

If your business feels like it's all hustle but has lost its heart, you're building on broken ground.  This episode isn’t about playing small, it’s about playing real. 🎯 If you’re tired of chasing income without impact, this is your wake-up call.   In this Blunt on Business episode, Rich Laster exposes thedisconnect killing most entrepreneurs’ momentum: a profit plan with purpose.  We div...

Great product; no traction?!😳 This Blunt on Business episode tackles the harsh truth behind why innovation alone won’t save your sales. Even giants like Tesla can miss the mark—and if you’re a growing founder or B2B leader, you can’t afford to do the same. 🎯We break down the 3 critical alignment keys most companies ignore when wondering why no one's buying: 1️ Spiritual Alignment – If you do...