Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Asking for what you want isn’t one big act of courage – it’s a lot of tiny ones. This week, I share how BJ Fogg’s “tiny habits” and a little celebration can help turn reluctant salespeople into more consistent ones. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. I started the How to Sell Yourself cohort series when, independently and within weeks of...
7 days ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. A few months ago, I started collecting Snafu articles into categories and was surprised by how many taught the tactics of doing something very specific. These experiments began with the same phrase — “This might work” — which is the title of my new book. I’m pleased to share This Might Work with you for free today! If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you?...
15 days ago • 3 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Last weekend I went fly fishing in Montana with a group of friends — all of them in sales. One of them said something that stuck with me: the best salespeople don’t think of themselves as salespeople. This week’s essay is about what that means — and what the best salespeople do instead. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. Fly Fishing in...
22 days ago • 8 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. The world feels unstable. At Responsive Conference 2025, my goal wasn't simple: help people move from apprehension to excited without pretending the chaos isn’t real. What we found is that purpose makes almost anything possible. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ How to Curate a Conference Whenever I curate a conference, I think about how...
28 days ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Most of us would rather talk about sex or death than ask someone to buy our work. This week’s essay explores why sales carries such a cultural taboo, the consequences, and what to do about it. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The taboo of sales My mother has been a practicing artist for fifty years. She makes mezzotints, which are...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Goals fail when we hold on to them too tightly. This week’s essay is about learning to hold your goals lightly — to prepare thoroughly, care a lot, and still let go of the outcome. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ How to maintain flexible goals – and why it matters The night before Day 2 of Responsive Conference, I spent an hour...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. Events are a competitive advantage. They create connection faster than anything else can. But most events follow a few typical formats, even while there are simple ways to make the experience more engaging. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ Three unusual event formats Last week’s Responsive Conference was the best event I’ve produced....
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. People don’t want “authenticity” – they want you to be the same person on stage, on Zoom, and chasing your dog around the kitchen. Alignment means being that same person when the cameras are off. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ Why alignment matters more than authenticity Years ago, in the depths of COVID, I was cavorting with my dog...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about authentic selling in a chaotic world. The world is more unpredictable than ever, and nowhere is that clearer than in the chaos of live events. If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it! Was it sent to you? Subscribe here. ↓ The future is unpredictable In 2015, the authors of Responsive.org wrote that “the future is becoming increasingly difficult to predict.” Today, with global instability, political partisanship, and a...
2 months ago • 4 min read