Hi, guys! Happy Monday!
Our trip to San Francisco was great. Kerrie and I learned a lot at the Sales Pipeline Intensive (best practices for selling Nutrition House Software), but we also had plenty of fun, too! When we arrived on Wednesday morning, we immediately rented a car and drove to Muir Woods National Monument for some hiking and exploring. It was an incredible experience, and I’m so glad we made the trek (about an hour from the city).
The next morning, we were up and at ’em (ok, well, we were on East coast time, so we naturally woke up at 4:30 AM) for the Sales Pipeline Intensive, a two-day meeting hosted by our business mentor Dan Martell. I literally knew nothing about sales before this meeting, but now I can confidently say I know a few things! š But, seriously, it was an awesome experience and the information and frameworks provided by Dan as well as the opportunity to network with people in the SaaS space were truly invaluable. I’m so glad Kerrie and I went!
I realize a lot of you guys aren’t in the SaaS space, so instead of boring you with sales jargon, I wanted to share some “more than business” advice from the conference – tidbits and pieces of information that really resonated with me on a personal and business level.
- The secret to saying young, according to John Kim, a speaker at the meeting, is don’t do the same thing for more than 5 years.
- Startup/SaaS life is a roller coaster. You go from “I’m going to take over the world” to FML in the same day over and over again. The secret to dealing with this crazy ride is ENTHUSIASM in your work, life, everything.
- If you want to become a better public speaker, always says yes.
- On an airplane, initiate a conversation by simply asking: “Is this trip for business or pleasure?” If your seatmate doesn’t want to chat, no big deal. If they do, you have a new best friend by the end of the flight.
WHERE TO EAT
In addition to learning ALLTHETHINGS about sales, Kerrie and I also had a phenomenal time enjoying the delicious food scene in San Francisco. Holy cow, we ate well. And, for reference, all of the places mentioned below (minus one) are a quick walk from the W Hotel where we stayed. If you find yourself near the financial district in San Francisco, definitely check out these recommendations!
- Blue Bottle Coffee – We went every day of our trip, and I even bought some to take home with me! I fell in love with the New Orleans Iced Coffee and can’t wait until the NEW Boston location opens! š
- Juice Shop – Loved this place for a quick boost of nutrients! The staff was also super friendly!
- The Grove – Awesome breakfast spot! Dine or takeout – just give yourself plenty of time. The line was out the door! I ordered the Avocado Toast with Poached Eggs and it was incredible.
- Gaspar – Wonderful French brasserie and bar. We made a reservation on OpenTable and had no problem getting in on a Friday night. The wine selection and escargot were especially excellent!
- Soma Eats – Great grab-and-go option with lots of healthy salads, sandwiches, etc. I ordered a big salad with salmon on top, and it was super fresh and flavorful.
- Lao Table – Laotian cuisine with a modern twist and, oh, so tasty. It was super busy at lunchtime, but we scored some seats at the bar. I ordered the Chicken Satay with peanut butter (omgggg, so cool) and a side of steamed veggies.
- El Techo – Not super close to the W Hotel, but it was worth the ride as it’s one of the only rooftop restaurants in San Francisco.
