SALES STORYTELLING KEYNOTE SPEAKER · AUTHOR
John Livesay
Known as The Pitch Whisperer, John teaches sales teams to turn data and case studies into compelling stories that build trust and win business.
FEE RANGE
In Person Keynote: $15,000
Virtual Keynote: $10,000
TRAVELS FROM
Austin, TX
FORMATS
Keynote, Workshop
About John
John Livesay, known as The Pitch Whisperer (a name Inc. magazine gave him), is a sales keynote speaker who shows sales teams how to turn mundane case studies into compelling case stories that win new business. A favorite for sales kickoffs (SKOs) and national sales meetings, his keynote "Revenue Rockstar: Be Memorable. Sell More." teaches teams to make the customer the hero of the story - so they stop competing on price and shorten their sales cycles.
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Drawing on 20 years in sales and an award-winning career at Conde Nast, John shares the lessons that turn sales teams into revenue rockstars. His TEDx talk, "Be the Lifeguard of Your Own Life," has over 1,000,000 views. And as Regional Client Strategy Leader at Gensler, his storytelling approach has helped pursuit teams win 50+ deals totaling more than $150M in new business over three years.
Clients love working with John because of his ongoing support after the keynote - a 30-day virtual follow-up that helps teams implement the storytelling skills from his bestselling book Better Selling Through Storytelling.
His book The Sale Is in the Tale is a business fable set in Austin, TX, about a sales representative whose old ways of selling aren't working anymore. The reader accompanies the rep on his journey and learns how storytelling strengthens the soft skills behind professional and personal relationships.
John guest lectures on storytelling in sales at the University of Texas at Austin, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where his book is required reading.
Speaking Topics
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Today whoever tells the best story wins the sale. Salespeople struggle to win new business and get frustrated when they come in second place. They find their prospective buyers forget almost everything they said and the time to close the sale gets longer and longer. Enter John Livesay, aka The Pitch Whisperer who shows sales teams how to turn boring case studies into compelling case stories. They learn the exact steps to become black belts in storytelling. Once that happens they become irresistible and their revenue soars.
The stories get shared across divisions which breaks down silos and cause existing clients to buy more products and services. The storytelling skills impact the culture as the sales team learn to develop both their personal story of origin and the company’s cultural story which creates a new level of bonding and shared goals.
The salespeople will no longer feel like they are drowning in a sea of sameness because they will know how to tell stories that make them magnetic and memorable.
After John’s keynote the audience will:- Have an emotional connection with buyers
- Be a co-pilot with your buyer
- Go from invisible to irresistible
- Become more resilient
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1) Personal Story of Origin: This is where a leader describes his or her own journey and stories that show why people love working with him or her. Painting a picture of the first 90 days for a new hire gives that individual a roadmap to success. Creating a repository of fellow employees' stories helps onboard new hires and develop connections through shared stories.
2) The Company's Story: This story shows values and culture in action. Many employees want to work for a company that reflects their personal values, such as sustainability or diversity. Telling stories rather than just listing values is a game changer.
3) Case Stories: Case stories from other employees who have joined the company are important to showcase those who have not only had success in their careers, but also developed friendships that exist outside of work. Research shows that people stay in a job longer and increase productivity.After John’s keynote the audience will:
- Become the irresistible choice for top talent
- Become magnetic and memorable
- Tell stories that employees see themselves in
- Paint the picture that pulls in your ideal candidate
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Everyone needs a great elevator pitch and few people have one. Plato said “Storytellers rule the world.” That is still true today. People remember your stories, not your numbers. Do you wish you could tell people who you are, what you do, and why you do it in a way that has them say “That’s interesting … tell me more?” Can you pitch your vision for your company so you can attract the best players for your team? What is the secret to pitching new customers to hire you and get referrals?
Pitching with a clear, concise, and compelling story is the key to breaking through all the noise in today’s digital environment. When you tell great stories, you pull people in vs. the old school way of pushing your message out to people. According to John Livesay, “When you tug on the heartstrings, people open their purse strings.”
Before John leaves the stage, your people learn…- 3 Magic questions to ask
- Be conversational not robotic
- Intrigue people to start a conversation
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