Pronk Studios Podcasts

Noob School is back again, this time we have a panel! John is joined by repeat guest Marty Osborn, and a first timer in Johnny Bofilios. Delve into the vast experience of these three and take away helpful info to implement into your own sales career.Check out what Noob School has to offer here: https://www.schoolfornoobs.com/I'm going to be sharing…

On today's Noob School episode, John is joined by Dirk Pieper, a Lead Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei, and President & CEO of Sage Automotive Interiors. Topics range from the challenges faced and overcame throughout Dirk's esteemed career, to the big differences in sales between Japan and the Western world. Tune in for incredible stories, knowledg…

On this episode of Noob School, John reunites with an old friend - Hunter Garrett of NAI Global, discussing his experiences in the world of industrial real estate, and giving great advice to help you take that next big step in your sales career. Tune in to learn more from this certified sales all-star.I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my so…

On this episode of Noob School, John is joined by a "relatively new friend" in Nate Manning. They discuss his start in the sales world, and the transitions throughout his career, providing some excellent advice along the way. From how his opportunity to study abroad at a young age impacted him, to the differences between selling tangibles and intan…

On this episode of Noob School, John catches up with a long time friend and fantastic sales person: Jennie Shaw. Watch now for great interview tips, and to hear about her time at DataStream, becoming the Vice President of Sales for TriMed, and even training surgeons on the implementation of their medical devices.I'm going to be sharing my secrets o…

Mike Grozier, founder and CEO of Trueline Brands, joins us on this episode of Noob School, speaking with John about many interesting topics. From falling in love with the service industry, to the huge success of House of Blues, to something very exciting coming soon to Greenville South Carolina, you don't want to miss this.Tune in for great advice …

Brooks Taylor is back again on this episode of Noob School, giving and giving an update on the state of Trident Digital, a crypto hedge fund based in Greenville, SC. Watch to learn more about blockchain technology, crypto, and even the exciting boom in the artificial intelligence world.I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, b…

This week on Noob School, John sits down with Andy Kurtz, CEO of Kopis USA, a South Carolina based consulting firm specializing in custom software development, SharePoint and data warehousing and business intelligence solutions. Tune in to hear interesting stories, from how he got the bug to jump into the world of computer technology, to how he and…

Today on Noob School, John speaks with Carl Sobocinski, founder and president of Table 301 Restaurant Group. They discuss Carl's resilience when faced with the many challenges posed by the pandemic, and shed some light on the workings of the restaurant industry, and much more.I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you …

John sits down with Will Shurtz of Methodical Coffee in this episode of Noob School, discussing his somewhat unorthodox start in the modern business world, and how he hustled for the love of all things coffee.I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noob…

On this episode of Noob School, John sits down with professional councilor Nilly Barr to talk about the benefits of therapy, not only applying to everyday life, but to your sales career as well. Nilly gives some great advice, from communication, to not letting your "head trash" get in your way, and things even lead to a live therapy session with Jo…

On this episode of Noob School, John sits down with David Wyatt, owner and director of Wyatt Law, to discuss a plethora of topics from law to the SC Football Hall of Fame, and much more in between.I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noobs: https://a…

On this episode of Noob School, John sits down with CEO Mike Baur of ScanSource, to discuss the challenges of building a successful sales team, how to overcome them, and much more.I'm going to be sharing my secrets on all my social channels, but if you want them all at your fingertips, start with my book, Sales for Noobs: https://amzn.to/3tiaxsLSub…

BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT Breathing is one of the basics of living. If we have some trouble with our health, one of the best treatments is going back to the basics, breathing. Now how does someone with no business background grow her small business? Just like breathing, go to the basics, make an offer people can’t refuse, and start small in your area…

TRAVELLING DOWN MEMORY LANE Dustin Caudell was once a noob under John’s tutelage, now a Principal at Fidens Advisors, he walks with John down memory lane and shares his story about starting in sales and growing into a successful sales leader. Dustin discusses the importance of having a great mentor and how it will shape you as a successful sales pe…

FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD TO THE SALESROOM Today’s episode features the story of Bill Lee, a story of just leaving his psychiatric profession because the pay was so low led him to a highly successful sales career. Bill is a Business Consultant at Lee Resources and the author of Gross Margin and 30 Ways Managers Shoot Themselves In The Foot. Tune in…

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John Sterling is joined by his old friend and colleague, currently the Director of Partner Sales at Appian Corporation, Greg Gardner. The duo talk about their good ol’ days at DataStreams, and what Greg has been up to since he left the company. What follows is a veritable masterclass on choosing what sale…

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John Sterling talks to Todd and Brooks Taylor from Trident Digital about the exciting opportunities available in the cryptocurrency space. As people with very strong finance backgrounds, Todd and Brooks come with significant experience, and provide value to investors through their ability to identify, dil…

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, technology entrepreneur John Harrison gives hiring managers tips for choosing the right people, and for job applicants, things to do to nail their job interviews. Scott also talks about his new company, Next Founders’ Fund, which provides support for entrepreneurs looking to fund their vision. HIGHLIGHTS …

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John Sterling talks to fellow The Citadel Alumnus, John Harrision. John and John talk about how you can ace any job interview, coming from a manager’s perspective. Their advice includes doing the easy stuff well, being well-prepared, and maximizing your personal network to get the interview. And no matter…

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John Sterling’s son, Jack Sterling comes back to discuss why or why not getting a Master in Business Administration is the right track for you. Jack, who himself got his MBA after getting out of the Navy talks about the benefits of securing the degree, and also talks about when it might not be worth it. H…

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John Sterling and his son and business partner Jack Sterling talk about their new initiative. Through the SkillBridge program, they will provide training and support to outgoing military personnel to help them secure a career in cybersecurity software sales. John and Jack, themselves former servicemen, ta…

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John Sterling talks about six things that you can do to ensure a successful sales career. From taking care of your health to always writing things down, John’s advice is sound, practical, and deceptively simple. Ultimately, they focus on the things that you can do now so that you can see results fast. Tak…

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John’s brother Jack Sterling comes back to talk about his journey from the Navy Seals to sales. Jack recounts the discomfort that he experienced during his first attempts at selling, the mentors who helped him along the way, and the skills he acquired to find success in the field. Now an entrepreneur, Jac…

It can be tempting to give in to instant gratification from time to time. Experience the world’s pleasures, live in the moment. But at some point, you will need to put your foot down and think long-term. In this episode of the Noob School podcast, our host John Sterling talks about thinking ahead and ensuring that the decisions you make today will …

Some people are just lucky and privileged enough to receive the opportunities that they are able to take advantage of, whether it be through education, social status, or just knowing the right people. But the truth is, you still have to work for it, or else that luck and privilege means nothing. In this episode of the Noob School podcast, our host …

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, our host John Sterling talks to Bill Haun, a Channel Partner Manager for ZOLL Medical Corporation. Bill, who has been selling the company’s defibrillators, trauma kits, and more for almost 30 years now talks about finding something to be passionate about in what you do, and how a life threatening and care…

Just like in nature, the business world favors those that can adapt quickly to ever-changing conditions. In this episode of the Noob School, our host John Sterling talks to Adam Fineberg, the founder of Rock My Resume, Jackson Square Company, and Grow BPO. All in all, Adam has lived in eight different countries, adjusting his management skills and …

In this episode of the Noob School podcast, John answers a few rapid-fire questions from some avid listeners. Tune in for John’s tips on selling during uncertain times, how to be the top one seller in your organization, and how small businesses with little to no budget for sales and marketing can increase their revenue and reach more customers. HIG…

The old adage is true: birds of the same feather do flock together. If you want to be around more interesting people, then you will want to be more interesting yourself. In this episode of the Noob School podcast, our host John gives us eight things anybody can do out of the gate to be more interesting. Spoiler alert: it’s all about doing something…

It’s true: the day you stop improving is the day you start dying. Therefore, it’s crucial to never stop learning new things, even as you achieve a long-held goal. There’s always a lot more to learn at the next level. In this episode of the Noob School podcast, our host John Sterling talks to Sunland Logistics Solutions CEO Arch Thomason about his o…

SHOW SUMMARY By every stretch of the imagination, Donald Corry has had an interesting career. After graduating from The Citadel, he served as a military intelligence officer and upon completion of active duty, began to carve himself a career in enterprise sales with Blackbaud. After a few years, Donald decided to work as a financial advisor with Ed…

SHOW SUMMARY Today’s sellers may have the fanciest tools and the best sales education that money can buy, but at the end of the day it’s about two things: consistency and a good plan. In this episode of the Noob School, Managing Partner of ACME Capital and Senior Lecturer in the College of Business at Clemson University, Matt Klein talks about his …

SHOW SUMMARY This episode of Noob School with John Sterling features Bill Lee, Business Consultant at Lee Resources and author of Gross Margin and 30 Ways Managers Shoot Themselves In The Foot. Bill helped grow Builder's Mart from nothing to $678 million over the course of 19 years. He shares how testing sales teams with the Kolbe Index was a gamec…

John Sterling Noob School Podcast Descriptions "Rhino" Dan Sterling is a natural salesperson—and John's brother. They recall a story about Dan's time in Columbia at the University of South Carolina that showcases his selling abilities perfectly! Noobs will want to listen to this episode. Dan's start in sales was anything but smooth. He was selling …

John Sterling Noob School Podcast Descriptions Jim, aka "Yummy," had an interesting start in sales: liquor. After college, he and his buddies opened up their own shop and earned their chops the hard way in one of the most competitive industries around. Once he got his start in investments for SunTrust, he had a rough start due to little formal sale…

Todd began his sales journey in college out of a reluctance to return home. He went from slinging knives, to selling cars, to traveling across Europe before he even graduated! In addition to a nice chunk of cash, he also learned a whole heck of a lot about sales. Out of college, John hired him at Datastream. Among Todd's best assets is his ability …

Toni Leopard is a basketball coaching legend around these parts, even coaching John's daughter for a few years! Recently, she's channeled her intensity for improvement and passion for relationships to the real estate world. She talks John through this interesting (and rewarding) transition, and how her coaching chops helped her ramp up into a succe…

No kidding, Leighton Cubbage has a remarkable story. He's had some incredible highs to go with some disappointing lows. And guess what? His entry into the sales world helped him breakthrough. Now, he's a pretty big deal around his neck of the woods. This episode is packed with wisdoms—how to grow a successful business, how to lose it, how to deal w…

Eddie Terrell and John go back to college days. The Citadel grads met up for lunch shortly after graduation while they were in the early stages of their careers—with Eddie picking up the tab. If you're keeping track, that's the best way to get into John's good graces. Eddie's journey through telecommunications sales is similar to most Noob School g…

Ted Hassold and John go way back. As one of the trailblazers in the telecom sphere, Ted first got into sales on a whim, really—he didn't have many prospects, and a close friend told him sales may be a good career path. He jumped in head first, learning on the fly how to really grow a strong client base. He shares plenty of lessons, including why th…

John's advice for Noobs is based upon a lot of his own experiences. But here's the thing—he didn't do things the way he now tells the Noobs to go about their job search. Sure, John's journey brought him to the top of his field, but he'd be the first to admit that a fair amount of luck was involved. You don't want to rely on that. Take a listen to t…

Jack is a very special guest. He means the world to John. They share a lot in common, including a last name—probably because Jack is John's oldest son! Jack's also a salesman, though he got a pretty late start after graduating with a history degree, then joining the Navy to become a SEAL. Now, Jack runs his own security company. Guess what's helped…

His initial dream of becoming a rockstar didn't pan out, but Scott Townes still turned out alright. Through life lessons and learning on-the-fly, he gained a wealth of sales knowledge and helped grow his family's travel agency into the largest in the Southeast. Now, he's selling high-speed camera systems—proof that he can really sell anything! He t…

Bradley Smith has been on both ends of the sales spectrum. He joined Datastream as an outside sales rep, excelling at technology sales. He transitioned to real estate lately after taking an interest in it as a hobby. John and Bradley talk about some of the lessons they learned during their time together at Datastream, including the uncomfortable mo…

Known by her online persona as "LinkedIn Lindsey," Lindsey McMillion Stemann is the leader of McMillion Consulting, a Greenville-based firm that helps businesses better connect with their prospects online and in-person. So, yeah—she knows how to sell. Better yet, she's on the cutting edge of the sales world and an awesome listen for aspiring salesp…

Some folks may recognize Mark Childress's voice from his work as a play-by-play commenter for all kinds of collegiate athletics here in the Carolinas. When he's not behind the mic, Mark is an exceptional salesman with a proven track record in various software and technology companies. Like all great salespeople, Mark is an expert at connecting with…

Bill Keating is in digital ad sales for some brands you may have heard of in the sports world: NBC Sports, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, and many more. You know, just those few small companies. How Bill got there is the real story, especially considering that he started out on Wall Street in a job that had nothing to do with sales. His journey…

John has a very, very special guest on today's show: himself! This time, he's going to ask himself the questions he normally asks his guests, so you can get to know your Noob School host a little better. Discover John's career plans in college (spoiler: not sales), his Kolbe numbers, and what he would do differently. This episode is a good peek int…

Joshua Lisec is among the world's best ghostwriters. His journey to that summit is fascinating to hear—but what does that have to do with sales? Well, guess what Noobs: in practically every single job in the world, you're going to have to sell yourself at some time. Could even be in an interview! For Joshua, he had to sell his skills to his first f…