131: How to Sell Without Feeling Salesy (with Stefani Pady)

If the word "sales" makes you want to crawl out of your skin, you are not alone — and this episode is for you. I sat down with my friend Stefani Pady, a former corporate sales leader turned coach and founder of GLS Coaching & Consulting and Women Worship & Work, to talk about why so many of us carry a "used car salesman" wound around selling, and how to reframe the whole thing around one word: help. Stefani spent almost two decades in corporate sales and sales leadership before God used a cover-to-cover read of the Bible to completely rewire where she found her worth. Now she teaches leaders — many of whom would never call themselves "salespeople" — how influence, conversation, and genuine curiosity are the real engines behind selling well. ### What you'll learn - Why "sales" gets such a bad reputation, and how to separate the tactic from the value underneath it - The difference between chasing urgency and choosing joy when you're overwhelmed with too much to do - How to ask better questions — including why "what keeps you up at night?" isn't actually the sharpest question you can ask a prospective client - Why closed-ended questions ("do you," "can you," "will you") shut conversations down, and how open-ended questions keep them going - How to identify your highest-and-best-use prospects instead of chasing everyone who could theoretically buy - What it looks like to close a conversation on a next step — without that step needing to be a signed contract ### Episode highlights *(Timestamps below are pulled from the raw transcript — please verify against the final edited audio before publishing.)* - **\[00:02]** Catching up with Stephanie and her multi-passionate path from corporate sales into faith-based coaching - **\[03:00]** How reading the Bible cover to cover in 2019 changed where Stephanie's worth came from - **\[08:29]** Filtering tasks by joy instead of urgency — and how that changed Stephanie's week - **\[11:24]** Naming the "proverbial f-word": why sales feels slimy and where that reputation comes from - **\[13:11]** The mindset shift from "selling" to "helping" — and what that actually looks like in practice - **\[18:47]** The Challenger Sale model and why leadership tactics and sales tactics are the same tactics - **\[21:26]** Getting specific about your ideal client beyond the social-media version of an avatar - **\[23:04]** Why "what keeps you up at night" isn't the sharpest question — and what to ask instead - **\[30:35]** Stephanie's practical tips: open-ended questions, knowing decision-makers, and always closing with a next step - **\[35:12]** The Greek word *parrhesia* — bold, fearless speech — and Acts 4:13 ### Key takeaway "When we are walking in our calling, because we have been with Jesus, it becomes so much easier to figure out those tips and tricks... because we're trying to move somebody in a way that will truly serve them." ## Resources & Links Mentioned - Connect with Stefani: Women, Worship and Work | GLS Coaching and Consulting - Join the *Women, Worship and Work* Bible Reading Plan: Sign Up Here - Explore the *Suited Membership*: Learn More - Book Mentioned: *The Challenger Sale* by Matthew Dixon & Brent Adamson **CONNECT WITH JAN:** Here are all the best places and **FREE stuff** 👇🏻 Grab your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREE DOWNLOAD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠S: JanTouchberry.com/opt-in Subscribe to the newsletter: http://jantouchberry.com/newsletter **FIND ME HERE:** ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - JanToucberry.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - @jantouchberry **JOIN THE CONVO:** We’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode and its impact on your journey. Use the hashtag #HerFaithAtWork and tag us for a chance to be featured in our next episode. ABOUT THE HOST: ### Jan Touchberry is a brand strategist, marketing consultant, and founder of The Brand Collaborative. She helps women entrepreneurs build profitable businesses with clear messaging, strategic funnels, and aligned visibility.