The Rural Sales Show

• #98: Behavioral Science Secrets for Better Sales Conversations w/ Melina Palmer

  Understanding people isn’t a soft skill — it’s a sales skill.In this episode of The Rural Sales Show, St John Craner sits down with Melina Palmer, an applied behavioral economist who has made it her mission to bring real-world behavioral science into everyday business and sales conversations.Together, they explore Melina’s unexpected journey into behavioral economics and the powerful lessons it holds for anyone in sales, leadership, or customer-facing roles. From decision-making shortcuts to pricing psychology, Melina reveals why people do what they do — and how small tweaks in language and approach can shift the entire outcome of a conversation.This is a masterclass in understanding human behavior, delivered in plain English, with practical applications for anyone selling in rural markets.You’ll learn:Why behavioral economics matters more than ever in salesThe key heuristics and biases that shape customer decisionsHow language influences trust, clarity, and conversionSimple pricing strategies grounded in behavioral scienceHow to ask better questions to create better conversationsWhy being thoughtful and intentional changes buying behaviorHow understanding human psychology leads to stronger relationships and improved outcomesMelina and St John unpack the hidden forces behind everyday decisions, the science of influence, and how small behavioral cues can lead to big improvements in your sales results — whether you’re talking to farmers, teams, or customers.🎧 Listen now to discover how behavioral economics can help you sell smarter, communicate clearer, and build stronger relationships in business and life.📌 Resources:Melina’s The Brainy Business: https://thebrainybusiness.com/Learn more about her books: https://thebrainybusiness.com/books/What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You: https://thebrainybusiness.com/what-your-customer-wants/What Your Employees Need and Can’t Tell You: https://thebrainybusiness.com/what-your-employees-need/The Truth About Pricing: https://thebrainybusiness.com/the-truth-about-pricing/Connect with Melina on LinkedIn+++Grab your copy of my new book "365 Rules to Master Rural Sales" from Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Want to make more rural sales? Get your FREE copy of “How To Succeed In Rural Sales” ⁠Ebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Connect with or Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my weekly rural sales email (which goes out to 3500+ rural sales professionals worldwide) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To join our private Facebook Group where we share a ton of free rural sales and lead generation tools almost daily ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For details on our training programmes you can check out what we do for sales teams with our Rural Sales Success™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or for managers with our Rural Sales Manager Mastery™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more on us, what we do and who we work with: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ruralsalessuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.agrarian.co.nz

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• #97: The Real State of Rural Sales: Leadership, Mentoring & Market Truths w/ Trevor Dennis

  Sales success in rural markets isn’t about product — it’s about people, leadership, and knowing your patch inside out.In this episode of The Rural Sales Show, St John Craner sits down with Trevor Dennis, Managing Director of Haifa Australia, for a grounded and insightful conversation on what’s really shaping rural sales performance today.Together, they explore the fundamentals of great selling and great leadership — from mentoring and mindset to recruitment, relationships, and reading market dynamics. Trevor shares his journey through agribusiness and sales management, revealing why the best reps still win on trust, curiosity, and genuine customer connection.You’ll learn:Why sales managers who coach — not just direct — build better-performing teamsHow self-awareness and honest feedback shape long-term sales successWhat to look for when recruiting rural sales talent (and what to avoid)Why time in the market still beats time behind a deskHow to build deeper customer relationships that last beyond the transactionWhy people-first selling outperforms product-first selling every timeTrevor and St John unpack the realities of rural sales, the power of mentoring, and the human side of leading teams in today’s competitive agribusiness landscape — lessons that matter whether you’re managing a territory or developing a national team.🎧 Listen now to learn how investing in your people, your coaching, and your customer relationships can transform the way you lead and sell.📌 Resources:Learn more about Haifa AustraliaConnect with Trevor Dennis on LinkedIn+++Grab your copy of my new book "365 Rules to Master Rural Sales" from Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Want to make more rural sales? Get your FREE copy of “How To Succeed In Rural Sales” ⁠Ebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Connect with or Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my weekly rural sales email (which goes out to 3500+ rural sales professionals worldwide) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To join our private Facebook Group where we share a ton of free rural sales and lead generation tools almost daily ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For details on our training programmes you can check out what we do for sales teams with our Rural Sales Success™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or for managers with our Rural Sales Manager Mastery™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more on us, what we do and who we work with: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ruralsalessuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.agrarian.co.nz

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• #96: The Confidence Factor: Mindset, Motivation & Sales Leadership w/ Yvonne Hilsz

  Selling with confidence isn’t about being pushy — it’s about people, performance, and purpose.In this episode of The Rural Sales Show, St John Craner heads across the ditch to Sydney to chat with Yvonne Hilsz, an award-winning sales trainer and coach who helps teams sell with confidence and leaders lead with clarity.Together, they explore what really drives sales success — from mindset and motivation to coaching, connection, and confidence. Yvonne shares her journey from hospitality to high-performance sales training, revealing how trust, rapport, and great questioning underpin every successful sale.You’ll learn:Why confidence is the cornerstone of consistent sales performanceHow to coach your team instead of just managing themThe difference between high and low performance types — and how to lead each oneWhy mindset and self-awareness matter more than scripts or KPIsHow to build rapport that leads to long-term customer relationshipsPractical ways to recognise top performers and lift underperformersYvonne and St John unpack the psychology of selling, the art of coaching, and the human side of leadership — lessons that apply whether you’re leading a rural sales team or running your own business.🎧 Listen now to discover how shifting your mindset and coaching approach can transform how you lead, sell, and build trust with every client.📌 Resources:Learn more about Yvonne Hilsz: https://yvonnehilsz.com/Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn+++Grab your copy of my new book "365 Rules to Master Rural Sales" from Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Want to make more rural sales? Get your FREE copy of “How To Succeed In Rural Sales” ⁠Ebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Connect with or Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my weekly rural sales email (which goes out to 3500+ rural sales professionals worldwide) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To join our private Facebook Group where we share a ton of free rural sales and lead generation tools almost daily ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For details on our training programmes you can check out what we do for sales teams with our Rural Sales Success™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or for managers with our Rural Sales Manager Mastery™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more on us, what we do and who we work with: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ruralsalessuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.agrarian.co.nz

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• #95: How to Win Sales Without Pitching w/ Blair Enns

  Selling isn’t about pressure — it’s about positioning, psychology, and trust.In this episode of The Rural Sales Show, St John Craner speaks with Blair Enns, world-renowned sales trainer and author known for helping creative professionals master the art of selling expertise.Together, they unpack what truly drives sales effectiveness — and how mindset, framing, and confidence shape every client conversation.You’ll learn:Why mindset matters more than tactics in high-trust sellingHow to sell your expertise instead of discounting your valueSmart strategies for pricing, packaging, and bundling servicesThe four conversations that define every successful saleHow to handle objections without losing authority or rapportWhy not everyone needs to be a “salesperson” — and what to focus on insteadBlair and St John explore how to lead better sales conversations built on clarity, trust, and curiosity — lessons that apply whether you’re selling creative services or complex rural solutions.🎧 Listen now to learn how shifting your mindset can transform how you sell, price, and build long-term client relationships.📌 Resources Mentioned:Books by Blair Enns:The Win Without Pitching ManifestoPricing CreativityThe Four Conversations2Bobs Podcast with David C. Baker and Blair EnnsLearn more at winwithoutpitching.comConnect with Blair on LinkedIn+++Grab your copy of my new book "365 Rules to Master Rural Sales" from Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Want to make more rural sales? Get your FREE copy of “How To Succeed In Rural Sales” ⁠Ebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Connect with or Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my weekly rural sales email (which goes out to 3500+ rural sales professionals worldwide) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To join our private Facebook Group where we share a ton of free rural sales and lead generation tools almost daily ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For details on our training programmes you can check out what we do for sales teams with our Rural Sales Success™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or for managers with our Rural Sales Manager Mastery™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more on us, what we do and who we work with: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ruralsalessuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.agrarian.co.nz

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• #94: A Sales Journey from Bottom to Top w/ Jade Sklenars of Power Farming

  What does it take to go from farm life to becoming a top rural sales performer?In this episode of The Rural Sales Show, St John Craner talks with Jade Sklenars of Power Farming, New Zealand, who shares his inspiring journey from a dairy farming background to thriving in agricultural machinery sales.Jade opens up about the lessons he’s learned along the way — from finding structure in routines to shifting from a traditional “product-pitch” approach to a service-first, customer-focused mindset.You’ll discover:Why routines and consistency are critical for sales successHow to ask the right questions to uncover true customer needsThe shift from selling products to building trust and serving clientsHow to stay productive without feeling overwhelmedThe role of effective training and coaching in levelling up your sales careerWhy investing in relationships is the key to long-term results in rural marketsJade’s story is proof that with the right mindset, structure, and focus on serving rather than selling, anyone can rise to the top in rural sales.🎧 Listen now to hear Jade’s journey — and the practical lessons you can apply to your own sales career.+++Grab your copy of my new book "365 Rules to Master Rural Sales" from Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Want to make more rural sales? Get your FREE copy of “How To Succeed In Rural Sales” ⁠Ebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Connect with or Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to my weekly rural sales email (which goes out to 3500+ rural sales professionals worldwide) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To join our private Facebook Group where we share a ton of free rural sales and lead generation tools almost daily ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For details on our training programmes you can check out what we do for sales teams with our Rural Sales Success™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or for managers with our Rural Sales Manager Mastery™ programme ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more on us, what we do and who we work with: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ruralsalessuccess.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.agrarian.co.nz

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