The countdown to the countdown is already on. We are counting days to the end of 2025 and soon shall be doing so to shouting, “Happy New Year!” As we say bye bye to 2025, here are top 10 articles in Sales Pitch as voted by your readership.
1. Motivation is Overrated- Say Bye Bye to 2025 old habits
“You will not always be motivated. You must learn to be disciplined.”
Sales problems aren’t about motivation—they’re about habits. Instead of chasing big goals or waiting to “feel inspired”, real growth comes from small, repeatable behaviours you actually stick to. Drawing from Atomic Habits, contrary to popular belief, action creates motivation, not the other way around. Start and motivation follows. Tiny daily improvements compound into big gains in prospecting, closing, referrals, and overall sales effectiveness. Discipline replaces motivation, and performance improves almost automatically. As we say bye bye 2025, let this be a reminder: success is about designing better daily habits and letting them do the heavy lifting. Read more
2. Jimi Wanjigi: Disruptor or Insider?
Jimi Wanjigi positions himself as a political disruptor in Kenya, challenging legacy politicians and offering a fresh alternative. He focuses on economic transformation—cutting debt, boosting opportunities, and putting the economy over tribalism—but his insider experience leaves questions about whether Gen Z and other voters will see him as a real change-maker or just another familiar face in new clothes. The key is whether he can turn bold ideas into real impact. Listen or Read more
3. Users can undermine your sale
Even when executives love your solution, the people who actually use it can quietly sabotage the sale if it threatens their perks, income, or comfort. Winning over users means showing them what’s in it for them—whether that’s efficiency, recognition, or personal protection—so they adopt and champion the solution. Ignore them, and the sale can stall even after leadership signs off. Read more
4. Customer service vs. Customer experience
Customer service is about specific interactions where you help someone with a need or problem, while customer experience covers the entire journey a person has with you—from first contact to long after the sale. As current governance in Kenya demonstrates, customer service often looks inward and focuses on fixing issues; while great customer experience looks outward, shaping how customers feel at every touchpoint so they stay loyal and come back. In short, service can resolve a moment, but experience keeps customers for the long run. Read more
5. Gen Z protests in Kenya – hello 2026?
Kenya’s Generation Z has shaken up the political scene by taking to the streets and online to demand change from an older political class that seems out of touch. Born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, this digitally savvy generation used social media and grassroots organising to mobilise nationwide protests—initially against a punitive Finance Bill and then more broadly against corruption, poor governance, and economic strain. The unrest spread across most counties, drew unprecedented numbers of young people, and exposed a deep generational divide: traditional leaders clinging to old ways while young Kenyans insist Kenya must evolve. The protests also highlighted risks, including dismissive reactions from some leaders, accusations of complacency, and reports of heavy‑handed responses from authorities. Read more
6. How not to sell anything
Losing trust is the fastest way to fail at selling anything, and Kenya’s government offers plenty of lessons. When messengers are not trusted, no amount of rebranding, big promises, or flashy initiatives will convince people—just look at repeated renaming of policies, schemes, and systems from 8-4-4 to CBC to CBE, or NHIF to SHIF/SHA. Selling big dreams while ignoring the evidence, then quietly folding them back into old plans when they fail, only deepens scepticism. The takeaway: people buy trust and results, not labels, hype, or recycled promises. Ignore that, and you’ll master the art of how not to sell anything. Read more.
7. Cross-Selling with Curiosity
Selling to existing customers seems easy, but it often fails because banks—and businesses in general—treat them like automated “yeses” instead of people with real needs. Simply calling a company account holder to push a personal account rarely works. Success comes from curiosity: asking human questions, understanding context, and aligning offers to what matters to the customer. Cross-selling isn’t about hitting targets; it’s about connecting value to customer goals. The article also draws parallels to Kenya’s governance, showing how rebranding, hype, and empty promises—like repackaged reforms or flashy national projects—fail when they ignore trust, context, and real needs. In short, whether selling a bank product or a national plan, relevance, curiosity, and trust matter far more than routine or spin. Read more
8. The evolution of sales – Bye bye 2025 edition
In a recent podcast with Moses Kemibaro, I explored how sales has evolved from traditional pitching to digitally-driven, human-cantered engagement. From my early days in life insurance to running a sales column and embracing content marketing, the key lesson is clear: today’s sales aren’t just about moving products—they’re about moving people. Customers are informed, expect personalized experiences, and respond to emotional connection. Digital tools, AI, and content marketing enhance this process, but human connection remains the core. The future of selling belongs to those who combine technology with empathy, insight, and meaningful engagement. Watch the podcast here
9. Skills over product. Always. Even as you wave bye bye 2025 and say hello 2026
Changing the product won’t fix a sales problem. If a salesperson struggles with one product or service, they’re unlikely to suddenly thrive with another. Many business owners are tempted to hire “aggressive” salespeople from industries like insurance, assuming that a simpler or more accepted product will make them succeed—but aggression alone isn’t competence. Success depends on the right skills, empathy, mindset, and the frameworks that shaped them. Even factors like a salary or easier leads can slow a salesperson if the underlying habits and drive aren’t there. The key takeaway: hire for proven sales skills, not product type, assumptions, or surface-level traits, because the right person performs regardless of what they’re selling. Read more
10. Boosting sales with best practice – Takeaway before saying bye bye 2025
Sales isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Observe what works in the field and adapt it to your context. From offering free tea at matangas to partnering with trusted salonists, the key is to sell the experience, not just the product. Even a campus itinerary for visiting Swedish students showed that creating memorable experiences matters more than the product itself. Watch, learn, adapt, and apply proven strategies creatively. As we say bye bye 2025, let this be a guide: look for what works, borrow it, and make it yours. Read more
Bye bye 2025: Step boldly Into 2026
As we officially say bye bye 2025, and hello 2026, it’s time to stop guessing and start doing. Build better habits, learn from proven practices, win trust, and create experiences that matter. Connect with customers, colleagues, and the next generation in ways that actually move them.
Make 2026 the year you sell smarter, lead bolder, and get real results. No excuses—say bye bye 2025 to old habits, outdated strategies, and wasted effort, and step into a year of action, impact, and growth.
See you then!
Check out our short courses and other services here. Or, if you would like to have your sales team sell more, we can help. In order for us to do so we propose a free consultation meeting or a call. If in agreement, please complete the form below and we will get in touch after receiving your details, none of which will be public. Thank you.
