AI doesn’t fix broken systems. It accelerates them.

In this episode of Sales Against the Odds, host Lee Brumbaugh sits down with Sam Sharma, founder and CEO of Elevate AI Tech, to discuss what AI adoption really looks like inside growing SMBs. Sam reveals why most AI initiatives fail, how poor data and broken workflows breed chaos, and why AI is more of a change management challenge than a tech issue.

They dig into real examples from sales, operations, and training, including how Sales Xceleration leverages AI to cut admin drag, boost consistency, and plug revenue leaks faster. From AI opportunity mapping to the shift from AI-enhanced to AI-first businesses, this conversation cuts through the noise and focuses on building systems that drive confidence, not just speed.

Key takeaways:

• Why AI tools fail without clean data and connected systems
• How AI opportunity mapping identifies the highest ROI use cases
• Why systems build confidence, and confidence drives revenue

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:10) Sam Sharma on 20 years in tech and the human side of AI

(03:23) Find workflow gaps with AI opportunity mapping

(05:12) Where AI fits in sales for prediction and smarter plays

(09:23) Real examples of AI in action from clicks to conversions

(12:31) Why AI rollouts stall and how to get real adoption

(16:59) How to measure ROI before you buy the next tool

(21:41) What is next for AI and personalized sales training

Connect with the team:

Sam Sharma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samsconsultant/
Explore Elevate AI Tech: https://elevateaitech.com/

Lee Brumbaugh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-brumbaugh-7835512b/

Sales Xceleration on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-xceleration/

Explore Sales Xceleration: https://salesxceleration.com/

If you communicate clearly, you win.

In this episode, Lee Brumbaugh sits down with Donald Miller, CEO of StoryBrand and bestselling author of Building a StoryBrand, to break down why clear messaging is the ultimate competitive advantage in sales and marketing.

Donald explains why customers tune out most marketing, how the human brain is wired for survival, and why short, repeatable, zero cognitive load messages outperform clever or complex language every time.

Together, Lee and Donald connect the dots between marketing clarity and sales execution, from subject lines and calls to action to sales enablement, AI, and owning a single problem in the marketplace.

Key takeaways:

• Why customers only pay attention to messages tied to their survival
• How to create zero cognitive load messaging that sales teams can actually use
• How marketing should warm leads before sales ever gets involved

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:11) Why buyers tune out most marketing messages

(02:05) How survival language cuts through noise

(04:14) Writing emails buyers actually open and read

(07:30) Why clarity wins attention in any market

(11:53) Turning marketing clarity into sales momentum

(17:47) Where AI helps and where it hurts sales and marketing

(20:43) What StoryBrand is focused on next

(26:33) Using clear language at work and at home

(29:35) One focus every SMB needs to grow

(32:47) Owning one problem to drive scalable sales

Connect with the team:

Donald Miller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-miller-storybrand/
Explore StoryBrand: https://storybrand.com/

Explore Building A StoryBrand 2.0: https://storybrand.com/building-a-storybrand-book-new/

Lee Brumbaugh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-brumbaugh-7835512b/

Sales Xceleration on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-xceleration/

Explore Sales Xceleration: https://salesxceleration.com/

The most successful businesses know how to extract hidden value from operations.

In this episode, Lee Brumbaugh sits down with Tim Van Mieghem, founder of The ProAction Group, to discuss how uncovering overlooked opportunities can transform a company’s future. Tim explains the importance of replacing judgment with curiosity and shares his unique approach to operational efficiency. He reveals how business owners can uncover significant profit in areas they may not even know exist and why developing a team to sustain that growth is just as crucial as achieving it.

Tim dives into the challenges of shifting mindsets within a company, how small operational changes can lead to big wins, and why sales and operations alignment is essential for sustainable growth. He also shares how embracing curiosity over inertia can lead to discovering breakthroughs that would otherwise remain hidden.

Key takeaways:

• How curiosity over judgment drives business transformation and operational success
• Why uncovering hidden value in your company’s operations can unlock significant profit
• The importance of aligning sales and operations to create a unified, high-performing company

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:29) How hidden value in operations can unlock untapped profit

(03:44) The real power of curiosity over judgment in leadership

(06:00) A real-world example of transforming operations in a seafood processing plant

(07:46) The key to creating lasting change: ROI and acceptance

(10:31) How aligning sales and operations leads to better performance

(12:25) The importance of understanding demand patterns to optimize scheduling

(15:30) Why the 80/20 rule doesn’t always apply and how segmentation drives profitability

(19:29) Rethinking how to manage high-volume, low-mix versus low-volume, high-mix products

(26:56) How curiosity and mindset shifts can transform a company

Connect with the team:

Tim Van Miegham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-mieghem-5ba91b/
Explore The ProAction Group: https://www.proactiongroup.com/

Explore Shocking Profit: https://shockingprofit.com/

Lee Brumbaugh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-brumbaugh-7835512b/

Sales Xceleration on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-xceleration/

Explore Sales Xceleration: https://salesxceleration.com/

Explore EOS Worldwide: https://www.eosworldwide.com/