Imported from andrescala/alex-hormozi-gtm-skills (Skills/hormozi-sales/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add andrescala/alex-hormozi-gtm-skills --skill hormozi-sales. Copyright stays with the author.

Credit: All concepts, frameworks, numbers, scripts, and examples in this skill are distilled from Alex Hormozi (@AlexHormozi) and his publicly published YouTube content. This file reorganizes his teaching into an agent-readable playbook. No affiliation, endorsement, or ownership claim. For the full context, watch the original videos linked in Sources.

Hormozi Sales Skill

When to use

Trigger this skill when the user asks about any of the following:

• Closing more sales, improving close rate, show rate, booking rate
• Writing or improving a sales script (opener, discovery, pitch, close, objection handling)
• Handling a specific objection: price, time, spouse/partner, "think about it," competitor, trust, guarantee, decision-maker, "let me try free stuff first"
• Structuring a 1-call or 2-call close
• Sales team design: hiring, training, comp, lead scoring, lead routing
• Call reviews / game tape feedback
• Cold call openers, outbound scripts, voicemail scripts
• Follow-up sequences, re-engaging cold pipelines
• Diagnosing "why am I not closing?" — find the leak
• Selling high-ticket vs transactional vs enterprise
• Discovery calls, qualification (BANT), pain cycle
• Pitch structure (3-pillar), metaphors, framing
• Tone, pacing, emphasis, script adherence
• Sales mindset: rejection, consistency, enthusiasm, killing for sport

When coaching a seller, always do this in order:

1. Ask diagnostic questions to find the leak (see ## Diagnostic Questions).
2. Locate which stage is failing (opener, discovery, pitch, close, objection, follow-up).
3. Apply the matching framework from this skill.
4. Give ONE piece of feedback at a time with exact script language.
5. Drill it — have them rehearse the new line 3–5x in succession.

Sales Core Philosophy

These are Hormozi's non-negotiable beliefs about sales. Every tactic in this skill is a consequence of one of these.

1. Sales is passing conviction from one person to another over a bridge of trust. It is an education process — you fill in the fewest information gaps needed for the prospect to decide.
2. If a prospect knew everything you know about the product and still wouldn't buy, and you close them anyway, you deceived them. That is unethical. Don't do it.
3. The person who cares most about the prospect wins the sale. If the seller cares more about themselves (commission breath) than about the prospect, the prospect feels it and leaves.
4. Kind, not nice. Nice people avoid offending. Kind people help — which sometimes means confronting the prospect's BS with hard questions.
5. Humans want to buy. They've just been punished for buying in the past. Your job is to help them justify the decision they already want to make.
6. Closers ask hard questions. Sellers lose because they're afraid to ask what's really stopping the prospect.
7. Volume negates luck. Sales skill is a reward loop — force-feed yourself reps to get through the "sucking" stage faster. Top reps always work the most hours.
8. Good closers try to get hot. Great closers never get cold. Systematize the conditions that create hotness.
9. The person asking questions is the person closing. Questions guide the conversation; answers do not. The one being interrogated loses.
10. He who asks the most times gets the most sales. But wrong asks kill rapport. Rapport is what buys you unlimited asks.
11. No is not no forever. No for now ≠ no forever. Circle back every 3–6 months.
12. Details are death traps. Every detail answer is a blind roll of the dice; you don't get to pick whether your answer is right.
13. You want to be right, not rich — wait, wrong. You become rich by making them right. They believe nothing you say and everything they say.
14. Marketing and sales are one continuum. Sales is personalized marketing — filling the information gaps marketing didn't close.
15. Don't be cute. The fundamentals win. Two fat guys in the middle run to the right. Great closers never skip the basics.
16. Sales skill is inversely correlated with script length. Concision wins more sales per unit time.
17. Belief and Trust are continuums, not binaries. Bigger decisions need longer runways of belief-building.

The Sales Call Structure

Hormozi's canonical structure is the CLOSER framework, used for 1-call and 2-call transactional sales (consumer and most B2B under $50k). For enterprise/committee sales, extend via more stakeholders.

CLOSER:

• C — Clarify why they're here
• L — Label them with their problem
• O — Overview past pain
• S — Sell the vacation
• E — Explain away concerns
• R — Reinforce the decision

Before CLOSER, there is the opener. After CLOSER there is follow-up. Full anatomy:

Step 0. Pre-call (before they pick up)

• 5 minutes of prep. Read notes from setter. Look at site, LinkedIn, socials. Assume the prospect repeating themselves is a negative; you reflecting their context back is a positive — binary swing.
• Pull up any upcoming call into a sooner slot if possible (same-day > next-day > future-day for show rates).
• Confirm the reminder cadence has fired: 24hr-before-personalized, morning-of, 1hr-before.

Step 1. Opener — Proof, Promise, Plan (15–20 seconds)

• Proof: "We've done this with lots of other people like you."
• Promise: "[Prospect name] decided to get going on [specific big outcome]."
• Plan: "Here's what we'll do — we'll go through [X, Y, Z] and at the end we'll see if it makes sense to move forward. If not, no sweat, I'll send you on your way with stuff that helps either way."
• Then immediately control the frame by setting the agenda. If the prospect is B2B-experienced, skip the foreplay and get to it.

Step 2. Clarify — why are they really here?

• Do NOT accept "just wanted more info." Nobody gets on a call to learn — they get on a call to solve a problem.
• Ask: "What made you [opt in / reach out / book this call / pick up]?" Tie their action to a problem.

Step 3. Label the problem

• Restate back what they told you. Establish the gap:
  • Where they are now → Where they want to be → The obstacle in between.
• "So just to make sure I'm clear: you are [A], you want [B], and [obstacle] has been holding you back."
• Short — this is a 15-second section — but load-bearing. Sets the table.

Step 4. Overview past pain (the Pain Cycle)

• Deprivation creates motivation. Expand their deprivation to top of mind.
• Ask what they've tried. Quantify:
  • Time spent
  • Money spent
  • Impact on status / relationships / peace of mind
  • Cost of inaction per day, per week, per year
• Everything they've tried is an advantage for you — because they're on this call, meaning it didn't solve their problem.
• "The pain is the pitch." Their failures are the holes you'll fill with your offer.

Step 5. Kill Zombies (diffuse bombs before the close)

Do this BEFORE mentioning price — before the bomb is armed. Load BANT here so it never blows up after price:

• Budget — Often inferred from what they've spent on past attempts.
• Authority — "Is there anyone else who'd need to be involved in this decision?" If spouse/partner: surface it now.
• Need — Confirmed in pain cycle.
• Timing — "If we moved forward, when would you want to start?"

Step 6. Sell the vacation (Pitch — 3-Pillar, ≤2 minutes)

• Talk about Maui, not TSA. Outcome, not process.
• Chunk your offer into 3 pillars max. Humans think in threes.
• Each pillar = a statement + a metaphor.
• 90% of the call is about the prospect; 10% is about the product. You should be pitching for no more than 2 minutes.

Step 7. Ask for the sale

• "Does that sound like what you're looking for? / Ready to get going on [outcome]? / Ready to start losing the weight / getting the traffic / hitting your number?"
• If YES — shut up. Ask for ID (or payment info), process the card, close.
• If NO or stall — move to objection handling.

Step 8. Explain away concerns (objection handling loop)

Use AAA for every single response to any objection or pushback:

1. Acknowledge — repeat back their words. Buys you time; builds rapport.
2. Associate — tie it to something positive, a foil ("someone just like you earlier today…"), or an authority in your business.
3. Ask — the next question, which moves the sale forward.

Loop this. He who asks most times wins. Rapport is what buys you unlimited asks.

Step 9. Close (ask again, stack closes, zoom out)

• Stack multiple closes from different angles if they're teetering.
• Zoom out with best-case / worst-case if stuck in the weeds.
• Never change price — change terms (payment plan, feature downsell).

Step 10. Reinforce the decision (post-swipe)

• Handshake, not hand-off. Introduce CS by name, edify them, state what the next meeting is.
• BAMFAM — Book A Meeting From A Meeting. Prospect should never leave a call not knowing the next meeting time + who.

Step 11. Follow-up

• See ## Follow-up System.

Discovery Questions

Hormozi uses these exact question sequences. Adapt the wording; keep the logic.

Clarifying the problem (opening discovery)

• "What made you [take specific action — comment / reply / book / opt in] today?"
• "What's going on that made this the week you wanted to solve it?"
• "Why now? What changed?"
• "What were you hoping we'd talk about today?"

Labeling (bridge question)

• "So just to make sure I've got this: you're at [A], you want to be at [B], and [obstacle] is what's been in the way — is that fair?"
• "Sounds like the real problem is [X]. Did I get that right?"

Pain cycle (deprivation expansion)

• "What have you tried so far to solve this?"
• "How long have you been dealing with this?"
• "What did you like about [that past attempt]? What didn't work?"
• "How much have you spent trying to fix this — in time and in money?"
• "If nothing changed in the next 12 months, what would that cost you?"
• "How is this affecting your [business / health / relationship / sleep / team]?"
• "What would getting this solved actually mean for you?"

BANT qualifiers (ask in the pain cycle, NOT after price)

• Budget: "When you did [past attempt], what did that cost you?" or "What budget have you set aside for fixing this?"
• Authority: "Is there anyone else who'd weigh in on a decision like this?"
• Need: Already confirmed by the pain cycle.
• Timing: "If this were the right fit, when would you want to start?"

Preference / decision-variables

• "What are the variables you're using to make this decision?"
• "What would make this a yes for you?"
• "What would make this a no?"
• "On a scale of 1–10, where are you right now?" → "Why not a 1?" then "What would make it a 10?"

Pre-close temperature check

• "Does this sound like what you're looking for?"
• "If we could get you [outcome], is this something you'd want to move forward on?"

Detail deflection questions (when they ask a detail)

• "What [specific detail] were you looking for?" → lets them tell you the answer.
• "What's behind that question — what are you trying to make sure of?" → chunks up to reason.

Hard questions (ask with AAA + permission)

• "What are you afraid of happening?"
• "What are you trying to avoid?"
• "Do you think the reason you haven't solved this yet is because of [their stated obstacle]?"
• "Can I be a coach here instead of a friend for a second?"

Pitch Framework

The 3-Pillar Pitch

Every offer, no matter how many features, chunks to 3 pillars. Because humans remember in threes.

Formula: For each pillar = Statement + Metaphor. Under 2 minutes total.

Example — weight loss: Nutrition + Fitness + Accountability. The 3-legged stool. If one leg is missing, the stool falls.

Example — leads for mortgage brokers: Timely + Qualified + Exclusive.

Example — dual-channel acquisition: "Your ads are your paycheck — you put in work every month and get paid that month. SEO is your investment account — you put money in and see little for a while, then it compounds to dwarf everything else."

The Pitch Bridge

1. State the desired outcome (from their own words in discovery).
2. State the 3 pillars required to achieve it.
3. For each pillar: highlight how their past attempts had SOME of the pillars but missed one — that's why they failed.
4. Show how your offer delivers ALL three.
5. Ask for the sale.

Key principles

• Talk about the vacation (outcome), not the TSA line (process).
• Use metaphors they already understand (stool, toothbrush, Amazing Race backseat driver, investment account, mechanic close).
• Highlight features they told you they wanted; do not highlight features they disliked elsewhere.
• "I just happen to have what you just said you wanted."

Closing Techniques

1. The "Shut Up" close

When the prospect says YES, stop selling. Ask for payment info. Beginners lose sales by adding "one more thing" after agreement.

2. All-Purpose Close (works on any objection)

"Do you think the reason you're on this call today is because [their stated objection] is the very reason you haven't solved this yet?"

Examples:

• Money: "Do you think the reason you haven't been successful so far is because you've never been willing to invest in this?"
• Spouse: "Do you think the reason you haven't solved this is because you've always needed permission for everything?"
• Time: "Do you think the reason it's taken this long is because you've always been too busy to prioritize it?"

3. The 1-to-10 Close

"On a scale of 1–10, where are you? 10 being 'let's do this,' 1 being 'never talk to me again.'"

• They say "6." → "Why not a 1?" (Forces them to sell YOU.) → "What would make it a 10?" (They give you their real objection as a feature request.)
• "Are we feeling tennish? Awesome — let's get going."

4. Best Case / Worst Case Close

"Best case we get you [outcome]. Worst case, you get [guarantee / refund / free service / nothing lost]. Both options are risk-free. One is guaranteed to leave you exactly where you are; the other has a shot at the outcome. Which do you want?"

Extra strong with any guarantee. Hormozi says he's closed more sales on this than any other single close.

5. Cheap Competitor Close

"If ours was the same price as theirs, which would you do?" → "Mine." → "Why?" → Let them list all the reasons you're better. → "Right — that's why we're more."

• They sell themselves on your premium. Laughter close.

6. "We Could Do It For More" Close (price pushback)

Prospect: "Can you do it for $X less?" You: "We could do it for more."

• Counter-anchors above. Flips them into FOMO mode. Near-perfect batting average for Hormozi.

7. ID Close (in-person / on Zoom)

• Don't ask for payment first — ask for their ID.
• In-person: they pull out wallet, card is visible, no "forgot my wallet" escape.
• On Zoom: "Can you hold your ID up to the camera? PCI compliance, just making sure the right account links to the right payment."
• Then: you hold ID between fingers, gesture to wallet: "I'll trade you — which card do you want to use?"

8. Mechanic / Secretary Close (detail deflection)

"That's a fair question — but asking me that is kind of like asking a heart surgeon's secretary what's wrong with your heart before you've seen the surgeon. Or asking a mechanic what's wrong with your car before they've opened the hood. I can't ethically answer until we've looked under the hood together. Fair?"

Moves you to the moral high ground + zooms out of the weeds.

9. Stack Closes

When they're teetering, stack 2–3 different angles on the same objection rapid-fire. Don't wait for the "whoever speaks first loses" silence. Example on TIME objection:

• "First thing we do is cut 90% of what's not working, so this saves you time."
• "This isn't a time question, it's a priority question — others in your industry are growing with the same 24 hours."
• "Will you ever NOT be busy again? Right — so if you can't succeed while busy, you never will. Better to start now."

10. Zoom-Out Close

"Whoa — feels like we've gotten all the way to Pluto and back. Big picture: you want [outcome], we deliver [outcome]. What's really in the way?"

Use when drowning in details. Pulls the frame back to outcome.

11. Anti-Guarantee Close (when you don't have a guarantee)

"If you're the type of person who needs a guarantee, this isn't for you. We can't guarantee work we don't do for you. If you're serious about doing this, we can help. Are you serious?" (Takeaway).

12. Support-Not-Permission Close (final fallback on decision-maker)

"I think you're asking for permission when you actually need support. If we play this out 5 years — your business hasn't grown, your weight hasn't changed — who do you blame? Is it fair to the relationship to hand over the blame? You need support here, not permission."

13. Past-Agreements Close (decision-maker variant)

"Does your spouse/partner know you're in pain about this? Do they know you're on this call? Have they supported you on similar things before? If they already don't approve of where you are, why would they disapprove of fixing it?"

14. Meme Re-engage (cold pipeline)

Send just a meme ("Where you at?" Kevin Hart). Highest response rate in Hormozi's testing for cold pipelines.

Objection Handling Library

Every objection handling response follows AAA: Acknowledge → Associate → Ask. And every objection maps to one of three categories:

• Circumstances (time, money, fit)
• Other people (spouse, partner, boss, team)
• Self (doubt, fear, past failures)

Objection 1: "It's too expensive" / Price

What it really means: They don't see enough value. Nothing is ever too expensive — it's just not worth it. If you were handing them a Ferrari for $5k, they'd find $5k.

Underlying fallacy: Resources vs resourcefulness.

Response structure:

1. Acknowledge: "I totally get it — that's a real number."
2. Associate: "Most people who end up getting the best results here said the same thing on this call."
3. Ask: Re-anchor to value and cost of inaction.

Scripts:

• "If I were giving you my Ferrari for $5k, you'd find a way to call 10 friends and pull the money together. So the real question isn't the money — it's whether you believe this will actually solve the problem. Let me ask you this: [revalue]."
• "Compared to what you've spent over the last 2 years trying to fix this and where you still are today, what does doing nothing for another 2 years cost you?"
• If they push for discount: "We could do it for more." (The Hormozi counter-anchor.)
• Never change price. Change terms: payment plan, feature downsell.

Note: If they just observe "wow, that's expensive" — don't immediately jump into overcome mode. They may still buy. Let them. "Yeah, it's not a small number. Does the outcome match what you need?"

Objection 2: "I need time" / "Let me think about it"

What it really means: Decision avoidance. Either fear of making the wrong decision or not knowing HOW to decide.

Response structure (rapid-fire questions in order):

1. "Totally — what's your main concern?"
2. "What are you afraid of having happen?"
3. "What are the variables you're using to make this decision?"
4. "What would make this a yes for you?"
5. "What would make this a no?"

Then AAA:

• "Totally understand. Believe it or not, that makes you normal — anyone making this decision in 30 seconds would be crazy, and we wouldn't want to work with them anyway. What it also tells me is you're just nervous about making the decision, which is exactly what people who end up with amazing results feel. Ready to rock and roll?"

Objection 3: "I'm too busy" / "I don't have time"

What it really means: Priorities, not time. Everybody has the same 24 hours.

Response structure (stack these):

• "First thing we do is cut 90% of what's not working — so this SAVES you time, not costs you time."
• "It's a priority question, not a time question. Others in your industry grow with the same 24 hours."
• The Busy Trap: "Will you ever NOT be busy again in the future?" (Yes.) "Will you ever BE busy again after that?" (Yes.) "So if you can't succeed while busy, you'll fall off again. If you want this to stick, you have to start while busy — that's when I'll give you the most support."

Objection 4: "I need to talk to my spouse/partner/boss"

What it really means: Could be 1 of 3 things. Work through them IN ORDER:

Step 1 — Do they actually have authority?

"What would happen if they said no?"

• ~1 in 3 say: "I'd do it anyways." → You: "So what are we waiting for? Let's get you set up." Done.

Step 2 — If they have authority but are using partner as a foil for a real objection:

"What would their main concern be? What would make them a no?"

• They now tell you the REAL objection through the partner's mouth. Overcome that normally.

Step 3 — Past agreements:

"Do they know you're on this call? Do they know how much pain you're in about this? Have you bought similar things in the past? Right — so they already support you solving things they don't approve of."

Step 4 — Support not permission (the final):

"I think you're asking for permission when you actually need support. Play this out 5 years — if nothing changes, who gets the blame? Is that fair to the relationship? You need support here, not permission."

Preventive: For sales where partner is always involved (high-ticket consumer weight loss, real estate, B2B over $10k), have the setter schedule BOTH people on the call. Hormozi's friend in high-ticket weight loss double-closes husband + wife this way.

Objection 5: "I want to try your free stuff first" / "The call itself was really helpful"

Response:

"Absolutely — you should do that. Do it before we start so you hit the ground running. Here's what'll happen: one of two things. Either you succeed with the free stuff, in which case you'll hit the NEXT problem and we can help you solve that. Or you don't succeed, in which case we can help you solve the first one. Either way you should get started. Let's get you rolling."

Objection 6: "Your competitor is cheaper"

The Cheap Competitor Close:

"If ours was the same price as theirs, which would you do?" → "Yours." → "Why?" → [They list why you're better] → "Right — and that's why we're more. You already knew it."

Objection 7: "I don't trust [this / you / it'll work for me]"

What it really means: Belief gap or trust gap — not binary, a continuum.

Response structure:

• Raise belief: Testimonials. Past clients just like them. "I just talked to a client earlier today in your exact position who said [specific result]."
• Raise trust: Prep notes showing you know their business. Personalized reminder messages. Show (don't tell) competence. Foil Association: "Our senior engineer told me this just yesterday…"
• Anti-guarantee / takeaway: "If you need certainty we don't have, this isn't for you. We succeed when people like you succeed — are you serious about doing this?"

Objection 8: Detail obstacle ("How many days/features/hours/etc?")

Core principle: Details are death traps. Never blind-answer a detail question.

3 responses in order of preference:

1. Question their question: "What days were you looking for?" / "Which certifications were you hoping to see?" (They'll often reveal the answer they want — you match if possible.)
2. Chunk up to reason: "Sounds like you just want to make sure you'd feel safe/informed. What I can tell you is [address the REASON, not the detail]. Does that feel good?"
3. Mechanic/Secretary close: "Honestly, that depends — and anyone who'd answer that before looking under the hood is trying to sell you, not help you."

Preference-detail overlap: "If you change the variables, you change the outcome. What you've been doing hasn't gotten you where you want to be — would you be willing to do it our way to get our result?"

Objection 9: "Give me a few months / next quarter"

Distinct from "too busy." This is delay/avoidance.

• "What are you going to be doing instead?"
• "Will that return more than what we're talking about here?" → If yes: "Then you should do that." (Ethical out.) → If no: "Then this should be the priority — let's get going."

Objection 10: Guarantee demanded (and you don't offer one)

• "We can't guarantee work we don't do for you. I can't eat the food or do the workouts for you. What I CAN guarantee is [deliverables under your control]. This is for people serious about doing it — are you one of them?"

Tone, Tempo, and Framing

Non-verbal skills matter more than word choice. A prepared script that sounds like a robot loses; an improvised frame that sounds human wins.

The four tonal dials

1. Emphasis — where you pause. "I didn't say he hit his wife" changes meaning 5 different ways depending on which word you stress.
2. Tone — up (question, inviting response) vs down (statement, moving on).
3. Pacing — slow = important / trusting / serious. Fast = excited / driving.
4. Volume — low = intimate, serious truth. Loud = hype.

Script annotation conventions (for training)

• BOLD CAPS = emphasize
• italics = slow down
• underline = create space (pause after)
• Standard = normal delivery

Core tonal moves

• Opener: energetic, confident.
• Pain cycle: slower, lower, genuinely curious. "Tell me more about that…"
• Pitch: picking up energy, conviction, conviction, conviction.
• Ask: slow, lower, direct. "Ready to rock and roll?"
• Objection handling: low, calm, reasonable. "That makes complete sense…"
• Hard truth delivery: permission first, then direct. "Can I be a coach here instead of a friend?"

The "huh" move

When hearing an objection, tilt your head and say "huh — interesting." Signals curiosity, not combat. Buys you 2 seconds. Defuses competitive frame.

Frame rules

• Seek to understand, don't try to win. You get rich by making them right.
• Be like smoke. Don't make statements they can disagree with. Ask questions.
• Same side of the table. Figuratively shoulder-to-shoulder, not across.
• Childlike curiosity. "Huh, really? Tell me more about that."
• Don't disagree. Don't agree with everything. Agree with the REASON behind their question. "That's a fair thing to ask because…"

Ghetto tone / humor

Use humor and informal tone to diffuse hard moments. "Girl, five minutes ago you said you had four hours a week — where'd my four hours go?" lands where "Susan, I need to clarify the time you committed earlier" makes them defensive. Humor = permission for hard truth.

Child-like curiosity > combat

Questions cannot be disagreed with. Statements are bombs that can blow up in your face. Always return to question form.

Talk time

Best closers listen 2x as much as they talk. Gong-style benchmarks confirm this. If you're doing more than 1/3 of the talking, you're losing.

Say Less

Concision wins. If you can say it in 5 words, don't use 100. Shorter sales = more sales per day.

Don't be cute

Great closers do the fundamentals relentlessly. No tricks, no flavor-of-the-month closes. Two fat guys in the middle run to the right.

Trampoline

Between calls, jump on a mini trampoline for 30 seconds. You cannot be in a bad mood on a trampoline. Mood infects tone infects close rate.

Energy rule

If you get "hot" (3 closes in a row, feeling dialed in), RECORD the living hell out of those calls. Study them. Hot closers systematize what makes them hot so they never get cold.

Follow-up System

Pre-call reminder cadence (drives show rate)

• Automated up until the night before. Don't pretend automation is human — people can tell.
• 24 hours before (personalized manual): "Hey [name], excited for tomorrow. I pulled up [specific thing about them] and already found 3 things that'll help — can't wait to share. Talk at 4." Voice memo or video > text.
• Morning of: "Yep, still on for this afternoon."
• 1 hour before: "Meeting with you in 60 — let me know if anything changes."

Post-call (if no close)

• Send CRM-logged notes within 1 hour.
• BAMFAM — next meeting booked before call ends.
• 24hr follow-up with a recap of what was agreed and the next step.

Cold pipeline re-engagement

• 3–6 month cadence for qualified no-nows.
• Send the meme. ("Where you at?" Kevin Hart meme.) Highest response rate Hormozi's tested.
• Send a personalized voice memo or video.
• Send an article/resource relevant to their stated problem.

Outbound voicemail (Hormozi's favorite)

"Hey [business owner], I'm calling about [competitor name]. Give me a call back."

• Forces curiosity. Way higher callback rate than "hey it's Alex from 123 Financial…"

Speed rule

• Respond to inbound leads in under 60 seconds → +391% close likelihood.
• More than 5 min → close likelihood drops 80%.
• Lead quality doesn't degrade. Response speed degrades.

Sales Metrics & KPIs

The full sales funnel (track every stage)

Benchmarks and rule-of-thumbs

• Same-day / next-day shows >> future shows.
• 15-minute scheduling slots > 30 or 60-minute.
• 7-day-a-week availability → +29% revenue baseline, +extra from better show rates.
• Best-closer-gets-best-leads (lead scoring + routing) → 5x top-rep income in one case study, 5x nationwide rollout.
• Top reps work the MOST hours. No exceptions found.
• Top reps have 2x listen-to-talk ratio.

Diagnostic metric logic

• Hard to lift close rate 20% → often easier to lift show rate 20% for the same total effect.
• If avg calls to close >1.5 → need more pre-call marketing/education.
• If offer rate <80% → your setter qualification is failing OR your closers chicken out.
• If cash-collected <90% of closed → payment flow is broken OR you're selling unethically and buyers regret.

Diagnostic Questions

When a user says "my sales aren't working" or "I'm not closing," run them through this diagnostic BEFORE giving tactics.

Stage 1 — Volume & opportunity

1. How many hours a week is your sales team available? (7-day? Nights?)
2. What's your speed-to-lead? (Under 60s?)
3. Are you using 15-min slots?
4. Do you have an off-the-call SOP?
5. Are you pulling future calls into today when slots open?
6. Are you asking for referrals at end of every close? ("Who do you know?")

Stage 2 — Show rate

7. Do you send 24hr-before personalized, morning-of, and 1-hour-before reminders?
8. Do your manual reminders feel automated, or do they show effort?
9. Are you booking mostly same-day / next-day or 3+ days out?

Stage 3 — Call quality

10. Are you recording every call?
11. Are your reps following the script? (Word-for-word for first 2/3?)
12. How much prep are your reps doing before each call?
13. Who's doing more talking — rep or prospect? (Should be prospect 2:1.)
14. Do they open with Proof, Promise, Plan?
15. Are they doing the full pain cycle? Quantifying cost of inaction?
16. Are they loading BANT BEFORE mentioning price?

Stage 4 — Pitch

17. Can you state your 3 pillars? (Not 7 features — 3 pillars.)
18. Do you have a metaphor for each pillar?
19. Is your pitch under 2 minutes?

Stage 5 — Close / objection handling

20. When a prospect says YES, does the rep shut up — or keep selling?
21. For each common objection, can your rep handle it AAA in one breath without thinking?
22. Are they changing price to close? (If yes — STOP.)
23. Are they asking more than once after a no?

Stage 6 — Follow-up

24. BAMFAM — is every call ending with a next meeting scheduled?
25. Is CS meeting sales weekly to review game tape together?
26. Cold pipeline — are you touching it every 3–6 months?

Stage 7 — Team / meta

27. Who on your team is getting hot? Are those calls recorded and reviewed?
28. Are you hiring via group interview or resume screen?
29. Are you giving the best leads to the best closers?
30. Is your top closer also your sales manager? (If yes — probably a mistake.)

Decision Tree

Which technique for which moment:

If they just booked / just showed up: → Opener: Proof, Promise, Plan + agenda-set.

If they're vague about why they're here: → Clarify: "What made you reach out today?" Tie to action + problem.

If you know the pain: → Label: bridge their current state to desired state with obstacle.

If pain is fresh but not quantified: → Pain Cycle: time spent, money spent, cost of inaction, status impact.

If you sense a future zombie (spouse / budget / timing): → Kill it NOW, before pitch: "Is there anyone else who'd be involved in this decision?" etc.

If they're hot and ready: → 3-pillar pitch + ask. Don't over-sell.

If they say YES: → Shut up. Ask for ID. Process. Close.

If they say "it's expensive": → Let it sit first (is it a real objection or an observation?). If real → re-anchor value, cost of inaction. If they ask for discount → "We could do it for more." Never actually change price.

If they say "let me think about it": → 5-Question Rapid Fire (concern, fear, variables, what makes yes, what makes no) → AAA → ask again.

If they say "spouse / partner": → 4-step: What if they said no? / What would their main concern be? / Past agreements / Support-not-permission.

If they say "time / busy": → Stack: we-save-time / priority-not-time / busy-trap (will you ever not be busy?).

If they say "competitor is cheaper": → Cheap Competitor Close. Flip them to selling you on your premium.

If they're drowning in details: → Question their question → Chunk up to reason → Mechanic/Secretary close.

If they're stuck on 1 detail / preference: → "Change the variables, change the outcome" + anti-preference frame.

If they've said no 2+ times and you're losing rapport: → Zoom-Out: Best Case / Worst Case.

If they need an emotional foil: → Foil Association: "I just talked to someone just like you earlier — can I share what I told them?"

If pipeline has gone cold: → Send meme. Voice memo. 3-month check-in.

If in enterprise / committee sale: → Multiply connection points (3+ people on each side). Stay in pocket. Extend cycle.

Common Mistakes

1. Selling past the yes. Beginner sees agreement, adds "one more thing," turns yes into maybe.
2. Blind-answering detail questions. Dies in the weeds. Always question the question.
3. Asking for money before killing zombies. Objections get 10x harder once the stake is on the table.
4. Pretending automation is human. Everyone can tell. Be obviously automated OR obviously personal.
5. Skipping the script to "be natural." Freestyle closers have inconsistent close rates. Script adherence first, tonal variation second.
6. Giving 28 pieces of feedback in one coaching session. Pick ONE. Drill it.
7. Talking more than the prospect. Rep talk time > 1/3 is a red flag.
8. Discounting to close. Destroys price integrity, ruins LTV of future customers. Change terms, not price.
9. Weak follow-up. Most no-sales die because of missing 24hr-personalized reminder.
10. Best closer made sales manager. Coaching is a different skill. Phil Jackson wasn't better than MJ.
11. Commission breath. Prospect feels the rep cares more about comm than them. Keep human first.
12. Not recording calls. You can't improve what you don't review.
13. No off-the-call SOP. Reps waste 40% of their time between calls.
14. Round-robin lead routing. Best closers should get best leads. Always.
15. Hiring by resume in transactional sales. Group interviews reveal the real trait differences.
16. Writing 100-word sentences in scripts. Concision wins. Every word must earn its place.
17. Arguing with the prospect. You want to be right, not rich. Making them right is how you get rich.
18. Not booking from the meeting (BAMFAM miss). Prospect falls into no-man's land.
19. Over-prepping on product, under-prepping on prospect. Know the buyer better than the product.
20. Giving up on "no." No for now ≠ no forever. Circle back.

Scripts & Templates

A. Inbound-lead callback opener (local business / consumer)

[Call, they pick up] You: "John?" [tone up — like you know him] John: "Yeah… who's this?" You: "It's Alex." [PAUSE 2 sec — they're now trying to place you] "I'm calling you because you opted in on Facebook for our promotion — I just wanted to make sure one, you weren't a crazy person on the internet ha — and two, to find a time that'd work well for you to come in. Obviously so you know we're not crazy either. I've got 2pm and 4pm today — which works better for you?"

B. Outbound voicemail

"Hey [First Name] — I'm calling about [Competitor Name]. Give me a call back when it's convenient. [Number.] Thanks."

C. The opening (Proof, Promise, Plan + agenda)

"Hey [name] — thanks for hopping on. Quick frame-set: you've decided to get going on [their specific outcome]. We've done this with a lot of other folks just like you. Today what we'll do is: I'll ask you a bunch of questions to make sure I actually understand your situation, I'll share what I think's the right fit or not, and at the end we'll see if it makes sense to move forward. If not, no sweat — I'll still send you away with stuff that could help. Cool?"

D. Clarify

"Before we dive in — what actually made you reach out today? Like, why this week and not 6 months ago or 6 months from now?"

E. Pain cycle

"Tell me what you've tried so far." [They answer.] "How long has this been going on?" "How much have you spent in total — time, money — trying to solve this?" "What's it costing you every month that it's not fixed?" "If nothing changes in the next 12 months, what does that look like?"

F. BANT (woven into pain cycle — NOT separate)

• Budget: "When you tried [past attempt], what did that run you?"
• Authority: "Is there anyone else who'd weigh in on a decision like this?"
• Timing: "If this turned out to be the right fit, when would you want to start?"

G. Label

"So just to make sure I've got this: you're at [current state], you want to get to [desired state], and [obstacle] has been the thing in the way. That fair?"

H. Pitch (3-pillar, 2 minutes)

"So here's what it takes to actually get [outcome]. Three things. First, [Pillar 1] — think of it like [metaphor]. Second, [Pillar 2] — this is [metaphor]. Third, [Pillar 3] — [metaphor]. What you tried before had [pillar they had] — but was missing [pillar they lacked]. That's why it didn't stick. With us you get all three. That's the whole thing."

I. Ask

"So does that sound like what you're looking for? Ready to get going on [outcome]?"

J. "Think about it" stall

"Totally hear you. Real quick — what's the main concern? … What are you afraid of having happen here? … What are the variables you're using to make this decision? … What would make this a yes for you? … What would make it a no?

Here's what I can tell you — you being nervous about this means you actually care, and people who care are the ones who follow through and get results. The ones who don't care get nowhere. So honestly, you sounding a little nervous tells me you're exactly the person who ends up crushing it. Ready to rock?"

K. "Spouse" full sequence

"What would happen if they said no?" [If "I'd do it anyway" → "So what are we waiting for? Let's get you set up."] [If "I wouldn't do it":] "Got it — what do you think their main concern would be?" [They reveal the real objection. Overcome it.] "Do they know you're on this call? Do they know how much pain you're in about this? Have you made decisions like this without them before? … Right. If they already don't approve of where you are now, why would they disapprove of fixing it? [If still stuck:] "I think you're asking for permission when what you actually need is support. Play it out 5 years — if nothing changes, who gets the blame? Is that fair to your relationship? You need support, not permission."

L. Price pushback

[If "that's expensive":] "Yeah, it's not a small number. What were you expecting or hoping it'd be?" [Let them anchor themselves.] "Got it. Compared to [cost of inaction], what's it cost you to not fix this for another year?"

[If "can you come down":] "We could do it for more." [Half smile, confidence.] [If "seriously":] "Seriously. What changes price is doing less — different payment plan or trimming scope. We don't discount because it's not fair to the folks who pay full. Which of those two directions would actually help you — timing, or scope?"

M. "Let me try your free stuff first"

"Absolutely — you should do that. Do it before we start. Two things happen: either you succeed and hit the next problem, in which case we help you solve that — or you don't, in which case we help you solve the first one. Either way you should get moving. Let's get you started."

N. Competitor cheaper

"Quick question — if ours cost the same as theirs, which would you do?" [They say yours.] "Why?" [They list the reasons you're better.] "Right — and that's why we're more. You already knew it."

O. Detail deflection (template)

Prospect: "How [many / often / long / what specific feature]…?" You: "What were you looking for specifically?" [They answer — you now know the right answer to give.] You: "Cool — that's exactly what we do."

[If they're pushy and you don't have the answer they want:] "What's behind that question — what are you really trying to make sure of?" [They reveal the reason.] "Got it — let me answer that directly. [Address the REASON, not the detail.]"

P. Best Case / Worst Case

"Let's zoom out for a sec. Best case, you work with us, [outcome] happens — life changes. Worst case, [guarantee / refund / risk-free element]. Both are risk-free. One is GUARANTEED to leave you exactly where you are. The other has a shot at where you want to be. Which do you want?"

Q. The Ask (final close)

"Alright — ready to rock?" [Or:] "Cool, let's get you set up. What ID are you going to use?" [ID Close — skip asking for payment.]

R. Hand-shake close (not hand-off) to CS

"[Prospect], I'm gonna introduce you to Sarah — she's going to walk you through onboarding. Sarah's been here [X years], helped [N people just like you] get [outcome]. Sarah — this is [Prospect]. They just signed up to solve [specific pain], goal is [specific outcome], the things that were most important to them were [notes]. Sarah's going to take amazing care of you."

S. Referral ask (end of every close)

"Last thing — who do you know who's as [awesome / ambitious / serious about this] as you who'd also benefit from this? Not just 'do you know anyone' — give me a name." [If they say "no one":] "Come on — why do you hate me? [Laugh.] The only reason I can think of is you either want your friends to suffer or you don't believe in this yet. Which is it?"

T. Coaching / Feedback Script (one piece at a time)

"Great job keeping rapport there. One thing to work on: at minute 18 you answered their detail question directly. Next time, question the question first. Let's drill it — I'll throw you the objection 5 times in a row. Ready?"

Sources

All frameworks, scripts, and quotes in this skill are drawn from:

1. "The Ultimate Sales Training for 2026" (154-minute full course) — Alex Hormozi

   • File: /Users/andrescala/Documents/Github/yt-content/alex-hormozi/transcripts/ultimate_sales_training.txt
   • Covers: sales multipliers, sales training systems, pre-call ops, call structure (CLOSER framework), closing tactics, objection-handling library, mindset.

2. "Sales Was Hard Until I Understood These 9 Concepts" — Alex Hormozi

   • File: /Users/andrescala/Documents/Github/yt-content/alex-hormozi/transcripts/sales_9_concepts.txt
   • Covers: maximizing opportunities, call-pulling, BAMFAM, referrals, preparation, listening > talking, breathing the script, killing zombies, asking again, kill-for-sport mindset, tracking data, never blaming circumstances.

Supplementary per-video summaries are in the same folder:

• ultimate_sales_training_summary.md
• sales_9_concepts_summary.md