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Welcome to the GTM Launchpad newsletter! Each week, I will share a sales play to help you grow your business, level up your sales game and succeed in the trenches

Hey GTM Fam,

Happy Veterans Day! Today we’re not just kicking off another week we're pausing to salute the heroes like my grandpa who was a Vietnam War vet who was everything to me.

Shifting gears.. this weekend whew it was extra special as I got to celebrate THE Morgan J Ingram’s 32nd—yep his Magic Johnson year! Big love to Morgan and the gang we had a blast with games, laughs and some real deep dives into our futures. It's moments like these that recharge our spirits and sharpen our focus!

Speaking of focus I’ve been all in on tightening up operations at The SD Lab. Drafted some fresh SOPs and mapped out a crystal clear four year exit plan. We’re set for a multi million dollar run—no distractions just pure drive.

And oh man my Bucs... another nail-biter that didn't go our way. Missing Godwin and Evans more with every game.

Alright let’s shake off the sports heartache and dive into what we’ve got cooking for you this week. There’s plenty to get into and I’m here to walk you through every step

Let’s roll up our sleeves and make this week legendary!

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Main Event: Crafting Your Success Story

Reflecting on a high energy weekend where we celebrated Morgan J Ingram’s 32nd—his Magic Johnson year! It was all about games, laughs and some deep discussions on where we're all heading. Just the kind of weekend that lights up the path ahead.

So how do we turn those fired up feelings into concrete steps toward success? Well let’s break it down like a casual chat just you and me figuring this out together.

Picture Your Big Win

Think about it—what’s your version of a championship game? Is it doubling your sales or maybe launching a new product that disrupts the market? For me it was laying down some serious groundwork for The SD Lab. Just like planning out a play in a game you need to visualize your end goal. Be specific. Is it hitting a revenue target or expanding your team by 20%? Nail down that vision.

Map Out the Plays

Once you’ve got your eye on the prize it’s time to lay out the steps to get there. I started with SOPs—those are like my playbook. What’s yours? Break your goal into actionable steps. Maybe this week it’s about optimizing your sales funnel or training your team on some killer upsell moves. Set tasks that lead you directly toward your goal one milestone at a time.

Keep Your Squad Tight

Here’s something Morgan and I always circle back to—keeping your circle inspiring and supportive. Just like our arcade battles where we challenge each other and push to do better surround yourself with folks who drive you to excel. Have regular check-ins, share your struggles and wins. It’s about building that team spirit that turns individual efforts into a collective win.

Routine Check-ins? Game On!

How often are you reviewing your game tape? Weekly? Monthly? These reviews are crucial man. They help you see what’s working and what’s not. It's like halftime adjustments in football. Adapt your strategies in real time to keep your performance top notch.

Celebrate the Small Wins

Every touchdown matters right? Celebrate those small victories—they add up! Maybe it’s a successful pitch or a new client onboarded. Recognize these moments to keep morale high and the momentum going.

Never Stop Learning

And heres the kicker—always be leveling up. The game changes, new competitors emerge and you’ve got to stay sharp. Whether it’s diving into the latest sales techniques or refining your marketing strategies commit to ongoing learning. Workshops, podcasts or just swapping stories with peers—it all counts.

So let's take this week by storm ya? Set those goals, break them down and keep your team looped in. We’re in this together and every step you take builds towards that big win at the end of the season.

Remember it’s not just the hustle—it’s about making the hustle work for you

Person Of The Week - The Morgan J Ingram

This week I’m giving a big shoutout to the legend himself—Morgan J Ingram. Morgan’s more than just a top notch professional in our field he’s a genuine friend who keeps everyone motivated and in check

We've been navigating the ups and downs of business together for the past two years and having him just a call away has been a game changer. The birthday bash was not just fun but another reminder of why it’s crucial to surround yourself with the right people on this journey. Morgan you're good people man. Happy belated birthday and heres to many more wins together!

Explore. Engage. Evolve.

🎥 Must-Watch Video: "How To Start A Successful Business" by Codie Sanchez. With this weeks must watch video Codie dives into the nuts and bolts of smart planning and avoiding pitfalls in starting a business. Codie’s insights could be the game-changer you need this week

📚 Book of the Week: "Problem Prospecting?!" by Smith, Ackers, and Taylor Struggle with cold calling or crafting the perfect sales email? This book is a goldmine for turning your prospecting woes into wins

Bonus Sales Tactics 🤑

• Walk a mile in their shoes: Ever wonder what really goes on in your customer’s mind? Let’s get into their heads together! Start using empathy maps to see the world through their eyes. This isn’t just about guessing what they might want or need. It’s about understanding their real struggles and how we can make their lives easier. Grab a whiteboard, jot down thoughts, feelings, actions and pain points. It’s like becoming a mind reader and trust me it makes our pitches hit way closer to home.
  

• The “what if” game: Here’s a chill way to nudge prospects along - next time you’re chatting just casually drop the “What happens if you don’t make this decision?” question. It’s not about pressuring them. It’s about helping them see what’s at stake on their own. It turns the convo from a sales pitch to a real talk about their future and more often than not they’ll start seeing the value of moving forward themselves.
  

• AI’s got our back: Wanna know why those perfect emails still get crickets? Let’s play detective with some AI help. Throw your email into ChatGPT and ask it straight up “Why wouldn’t you reply to this if you were the customer?” It’s like having a secret advisor pointing out what we might be missing. Tweak your messages based on what the AI digs up and watch those replies start rolling in.
  

  • Give this prompt from Jed Mahrle a try this week 👇
    
    I work for [company]. We do [insert very specific explanation of what you do]. I'm writing a cold email campaign to [persona] and need your help. I know my emails are landing in their inboxes, and they're reading them. Yet, they're still not responding.

    
    So I need you to act as if you're in the mind of a [persona] receiving this email:
    

    [insert email]
    

    If you were truly a  [persona], and you received this cold email, what are all the reasons you wouldn't respond? 
    

    Tell me what makes you skeptical, what makes you confused, and what factors are at play that I'm not seeing that would make you not want to take action and book a meeting with me. This feedback will help me know what I need to do to improve my cold emails and get more replies.

That’s all for this issue GTM fam! Remember it’s all about turning those big ideas into real, tangible actions. Grab one of the tactics we talked about, give it a go and let me know how it turns out. We're in this together and each step forward is a step towards crushing those goals.

Catch you next Monday

P.S. Just a quick one before you dive back into your week: If you could master one new skill overnight what would it be? Drop your thoughts—I’m all ears!

Thanks for reading, see you again next week at 8 am MST!

- Tom Slocum ✌️

Step Into The Lab

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