Summary
In this conversation, Dan interviews Will Koning, the CEO and co-founder of Merit, a company that provides free sales education and career opportunities. Will shares his journey from being a salesperson to starting his own businesses and the challenges he faced along the way. They also discuss the qualities to look for when hiring new employees, including curiosity, coachability, communication skills, and grit. Will also shares his experience in hog roasting and the importance of enjoying the journey in entrepreneurship. In this conversation, Will Koning shares his experience with travel and how it has shaped his perspective on business and sales. He also discusses his company, Merit, which offers a free jobs board and sales education. The conversation touches on topics such as the importance of human interaction in sales, the value of providing value to prospects, and the strategy involved in American football.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Will’s Background and Journey
03:49 Merit: Providing Free Sales Education and Career Opportunities
05:08 The Challenges and Rewards of Entrepreneurship
09:27 Lessons Learned from Hog Roasting
20:19 The Key Qualities to Look for When Hiring
22:08 Assessing Qualities During the Interview Process
24:03 Trivia Questions
24:44 The Impact of Travel on Business and Sales
26:05 The Importance of Human Interaction in Sales
30:07 Providing Value and Persevering in Sales
36:34 Standing Out in a Mature Market
39:06 Insights from American Football for Startups
