Something happened to me recently that reminded me why most deals are lost too early.
I called a prospect. They were the perfect ICP match.
But 30 seconds in, he cut me off and hung up.
No explanation. Just gone.
Most reps would’ve moved on. I almost did.
But I had a strong sense we could solve a real problem there. So I took a different route... I called his manager.
Same company. Same pitch. Same problem-solution narrative.
Only this time… She listened.
Not just politely. Intently.
By the end of the call, we had a meeting scheduled.
When I logged into Google Meet a few days later, guess who was sitting there, camera on, looking right at me?
Yep.
The guy who hung up.
At that moment, I won't lie, I felt vindicated. Just for a second.
But I smiled, greeted him warmly, moved on, and was polite with him throughout the call.
Sales is still about building bridges, not burning them.
✅ POWERDIAL EDGE of The Week:
“Persistence isn’t pushy when it’s anchored in truth.”
Most reps take rejection at face value. One hang-up, one brush-off, and they back down, thinking it’s respectful.
But often, that first “no” isn’t about you. It’s about bad timing, stress, or just plain habit. If you know your offer fits, backing off too early isn't humility; it’s abandoning the chance to help.
Real pros don’t force. They redirect. They try a different angle, a different person, a better moment.
That’s not pushy, it’s tactical. It means you believe in the problem you’re solving enough to show up again, even when the door slams shut the first time.
Persistence, when done with clarity and care, earns respect. It turns you from “just another seller” into the one who actually gets it.
Keep showing up, with precision, not pressure. And you’ll close the ones who almost slipped away.
Before You Close This Tab...
Most people think the call ends when someone hangs up.
But in sales, that moment is just data.
It tells you who’s ready, who’s not, and who’s guarding a pain they haven’t admitted yet.
It doesn't matter if it's a decision-maker protecting their time or an employee protecting their ego. Your job isn’t to take it personally.
It’s to look at what that reaction tells you.
In either case, the mistake most reps make is assuming the conversation is over.
The best reps know: when someone shuts the door, you don’t stop.
You look for the one who has the keys...
Cheers.
— The Sheriff in Town
