In this episode of “Dialing Out,” we unpack a decade in B2B sales with Anamarija—spanning Presales (BDR), Account Executive, and After-Sales/Project Handling. What actually moves deals forward when the pitch ends? We dive into lead hygiene, follow-ups, objection handling, and the pivots that turn shaky starts into long-term partnerships.
You’ll hear candid stories (Poland, Finland, DACH) and specific moves: how to document rigorously, when to slow down to avoid costly email mistakes, and how to reframe a strategy when early results stall.
Read Time
5 min
We discuss
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The “big flow” career: why evolving roles in B2B sales rarely have hard boundaries
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Lead hygiene as the foundation: notes, names, follow-ups, and why “warm” leads cool fast
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The cost of rushing: email errors, bad personalization, and how to avoid them
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Phone vs. email: why human recovery is easier live than after you hit “send”
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Objection handling everywhere: preparation and product/service knowledge as your shield
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Budget objections in sales calls: ROI framing vs. discounts—and when not to push
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Presales vs. Sales difficulty: volume, pace, and why one is “most rewarding”
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AE advantage from BDR roots: documentation discipline wins multi-stakeholder sales
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“Freedom” through cold calling: confidence, improvisation, and humor that builds trust
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After-sales pivots: when the initial strategy fails, change the list/industry/approach
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Partnerships over end-customers: a switch that created multi-project growth
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Turning dissatisfaction around: concrete steps to salvage a stalling account
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Scaling with care: adding people/projects slowly to keep quality and control
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The next decade: adapting fast to AI and process change
Show Notes
From BDR to AE to After-Sales: one continuous system
A decade across roles reveals fewer sharp transitions and more ongoing adaptation. Skills in lead hygiene and documentation compound as responsibilities grow.
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Roles bleed into each other; success depends on consistent process.
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Presales habits (notes, timestamps, ownership) power AE and project work.
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Scaling slowly helped maintain quality as projects and people increased.
Lead hygiene: the hidden engine of momentum
Meticulous tracking (names, calls, notes, next steps) keeps deals moving and prevents “warm” from becoming “cold.”
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Follow-up discipline preserves intent; missed follow-ups waste pipeline.
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Document immediately after calls; don’t trust memory.
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Shareable records enable team handoffs without friction.
Rushing is expensive—especially in writing
It’s easy to recover in a live call; email mistakes linger. Slow down where errors are irreversible.
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Double-check names, facts, and personalization before sending.
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Use templates—but personalize thoughtfully.
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When in doubt, call first; write later.
Objection handling: same skill, different tempo
Preparation (product, service, benefits) prevents surprises. Sales calls introduce budget/ROI friction that can take longer to resolve.
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In presales, the goal is the meeting—keep it simple and move forward.
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In sales, fewer leads and longer conversations raise the stakes.
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Frame ROI; avoid reflexive discounting.
Confidence, improvisation, and humor
Cold calling builds “freedom”: less fear, more adaptability, better rapport.
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Name your human moments; laughter resets tension.
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Improvise within a structure; don’t script the person.
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Humor builds trust without undercutting professionalism.
After-sales turnarounds: change the game, not just the script
When early results stall, change strategy with a clear hypothesis.
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Switch targets (end-customer → partner), lists, or industries.
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Ask for the runway to test a new angle; then measure.
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Wins included expanding teams and multi-month extensions.
Key takeaways
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Lead hygiene beats charisma—every role relies on great documentation.
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Follow-ups on time keep “warm” from turning cold.
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Call errors are fixable; email errors aren’t—slow down before sending.
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Preparation neutralizes objections; budget needs ROI, not panic discounts.
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Presales is hard—and highly rewarding—because context switches nonstop.
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BDR roots make better AEs: handoffs, tracking, and team clarity.
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When the plan fails, change the approach (list, ICP, motion), not just the pitch.
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Confidence and humor turn friction into rapport.
Pull quotes
“Lead hygiene is the foundation—without it, warm leads cool fast.”
“You can recover in a call; you can’t unsend a bad email.”
“When results stall, change the list or the motion—not just the wording.”
Guest
Anamarija — BD Strategist
Host: Dominka
FAQ
How do I keep lead hygiene tight without slowing reps down?
Use a simple call-note checklist (Who/What/Next Step/When) right after each call, with mandatory next-activity fields. Keep fields minimal but consistent so handoffs are painless.
What’s the best first move when early results disappoint?
Propose a controlled pivot: new list or partner-first motion, with a two-week test window and clear success metrics. Communicate the hypothesis and expected indicators.
When should I push on budget objections?
Anchor on ROI and risk reduction. If a timeline or scope adjustment won’t make sense for the buyer, don’t force it—protect pipeline quality.
Is presales or sales “harder”?
Different hard: presales demands rapid context-switching at volume; sales carries higher stakes per conversation. Both depend on preparation and clean handoffs.