Edison Apolonio's Linkedin Analytics

“You’re leading the Team!” Wait… what?? I didn’t think I’d end up leading a sales team in my mid-20s… Let alone with a company car and a travel budget to take my team across the state. When I answered the job ad, I was just looking for a way forward. “Direct sales,” it said. That’s all. Turned out, it meant selling mobile phone plans to businesses - cold. Knocking on doors. Walking into shops. Getting told “no” 20 times before lunch. I wasn’t a natural. I didn’t have the slick talk or polished pitch. But I showed up. Every day. Rain or shine. I worked harder than I knew I could. A few months in, my manager called me in. “You’re leading the team,” he said. No handbook. No training. Just me, figuring it out on the fly. I went from walking solo to driving my team through regional towns and tiny country streets, chasing results together. We laughed. We failed. We celebrated the smallest wins. And I learned that leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about showing up when it’s hard. Bringing people with you when no one else wants to go. And staying the course when others quit. That role changed me. It taught me to bet on myself - before anyone else ever would. ⸻ I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Sharing lessons learned from over 20 years in Sales. 📈 Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost ♻️ to share with your network.

Misery loves company. But so does momentum. One thing I’ve learned over the years is this… If you’re working hard to elevate your life, your environment matters. A lot more than most people think. I’ve learned this the hard way - in business, work and in life. And let me tell you - it’s almost impossible to grow when you’re surrounded by people who choose to stay stuck. The ones who: • Complain more than they commit • Blame instead of take ownership • Fear change more than they regret staying the same We become like the people we hang around most. Not overnight. But slowly, subtly… and then all at once. So if you’re serious about growth… Start curating your circle like your future depends on it. Because it does. Surround yourself with people who stretch you, challenge you, inspire you. That’s when real, positive change happens. Not just in what you do - but in who you become. Just out of curiosity… Have you ever been in a situation where you had to limit the amount of time you spend with someone because they drain your positive energy - like an energy vampire 🧛‍♂️ - every time you’re with them? (I know I have - plenty of times!) —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

“I went from sleeping on the floor to shaking hands with successful business owners and turning them into paying clients.” Nope, there’s no overnight success story here. No degree. No high-level connections. No trust fund. And definitely no Lambo. Just years of rejection, self-doubt, and doing the work even when no one was watching. Over the past 20+ years: - I’ve made thousands of cold calls, - closed multi-5-figure deals, - lost clients, - won some back, - and learned a LOT of lessons the hard way. So how did I get here? I bet on myself. I took a chance on “sales” - and never looked back. Here are 20 lessons I’ve learned from over 20 years in Sales: 1. Confidence is earned through preparation. 2. You’re not selling a product - you’re solving a problem. 3. The follow-up is where most deals are won (or lost). 4. Rejection isn’t personal - it’s part of the process. 5. The best salespeople listen more than they talk. (Read that again) 6. You don’t need to be pushy to be persuasive. 7. Scripts help, but conversations close deals! 8. People don’t buy when they’re confused - clarity sells. 9. Rapport opens the door, trust keeps it open. 10. Master the basics before chasing hacks. 11. Speed matters, but so does thoughtfulness. 12. Learn how to read silence - it speaks volumes. 13. Objections are buying signals in disguise. 14. If you can’t explain your offer in 30 seconds, it’s too complicated. 15. Energy transfers - protect yours. 16. Sales is a skill, not a personality trait. 17. The fortune really is in the follow-up. 18. Stay curious - every no has a reason. 19. Clients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 20. You’re always one conversation away from a breakthrough. I’m curious… which one hits home for you right now? PS: Throwback video from our second trip to Paris. 🇫🇷🥐 Wild to think how far life’s come. From being born and raised in poverty in Manila, Philippines… … to moving to Sydney at 16 with nothing but hope and a suitcase… … to raising a family and travelling to some of the most beautiful places in the world 🌏🗺️ (17 countries and counting). Forever grateful for this life. ❤️ Forever grounded by where I started. Let’s keep going. Let’s keep growing. —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Sharing lessons learned from over 20 years in Sales. 📈 Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

I built a cool website in 2 minutes flat. Here’s how you (or anyone) can do it using a simple and powerful AI tool. If you’ve been sleeping under a rock or just new to the fast-changing world of AI technology… this will blow your mind. It feels like every other week, a new AI tool pops up and flips the script on how we work. This week for me? That tool is Gamma. It’s been around for a while, but I only just got into it - and WOW. I shared it with our team, and the reaction was instant: “Wait… it can do that? In minutes?” Here’s what blew me away: - Turn a messy brain dump into a clean, professional deck; - Build a slick one-pager for your next product idea; - Transform a simple text doc into a powerful, visually attractive pitch deck; - Create a personal or business website that actually looks good - no code, no designer! No more wrestling with PowerPoint. No more spending hundreds just to get a simple site live. It took me ages to learn PowerPoint from scratch back in the day - but Gamma? I picked it up in 5 minutes. Not kidding. It does the heavy lifting - fast, simple, and honestly… kind of fun! 😄 And like that old quote says: “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” You’ve been warned. Thank me later. PS: Have you tried Gamma, yet? I’m not affiliated with them but I created this short demo video just to help out the beginners (see below). It took me about two minutes to build a beautiful website with all the essentials for this specific type of service offer. From there, it’s just a matter of personalising the content as needed. Change the colours, themes, text, images and more. What do you think of this incredible AI tool? Will you use Gamma?

Wasting time isn’t what most people think it is. It’s NOT staying up late watching YouTube tutorials. It’s NOT trying to build something that didn’t work out. It’s NOT those late nights getting coached by someone who’s done what you’re trying to do. It’s NOT failing over and over while learning a new skill. You know what IS wasting time?? Coming home from a job you can’t stand… and then spending the rest of the night - every night - binge-watching Netflix. Keep doing that and you’ll just make those Hollywood (or Bollywood) actors richer, while your dreams sit on the shelf collecting dust. But if you’re using that same time to learn something new… … something that could change your future or help your family down the track? That’s not wasted time. That’s growth. That’s grit! Even if you fail five, ten, or twenty times before getting it right - you’re still ahead of most people who never even try. (Read that again) And if learning, building, failing, and getting back up again means I’ve “wasted time”? Then I’ll wear that badge with pride. Because I’ve been through it more than once or twice… And every time, it brought me closer to the life I really wanted. I know it. I believe it. I feel it in my soul. So next time you feel like you’ve “wasted time”? Take a proper look at what you’ve actually done over the past 6 to 12 months. Give yourself real feedback. Adjust accordingly. Who knows? You might already be doing the right thing… You just need more time in the game. Agree? —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

It’s your win - so, remember this… How they react to you sharing it? That’s on them - not you. Look… we all use social media differently, but let’s be real - WINs are everywhere. - New clients. - Big revenue months. - Speaking gigs. - Personal breakthroughs. Some people will cheer. Others will roll their eyes. But here’s the thing: People will judge you no matter what you do. Share a win? You’re full of yourself. Don’t share it? You’re not doing enough. Wow. Seriously… You can’t win trying to please everyone. So you might as well celebrate what you’ve earned or learned. You don’t need anyone’s permission for that. Right? Because if you won’t back yourself… then who will? What’s one win you’ve been sitting on - big or small? Share it here. Let’s celebrate it! PS: To start with, I’ll share a quick win in the comments shortly. Feel free to share your personal or business WIN here, too. PPS: Someone thought this was AI when I shared the photo my daughter took of me during this trip. So, for the haters - here’s the video version (location & date included) of my poor attempt to do a jumping kick in Paris. Hey, give me a break - I’m over 50 years old and I didn’t stuff up the landing so, can I claim this as a WIN, too?! 😅 —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates the occasion. It’s a 4-day long weekend here in Sydney so we have time to chill and just do whatever. Maybe catch up with family and friends as well. ❤️ Been enjoying my free time so I played around with AI a bit. Let me know what you think of the result. Meet Edison 2.0 - your friendly Filipino-Aussie. 🇵🇭🇦🇺 Ageing well - like a good bottle of red wine. 🍷😉

Let’s be real - fear is killing your sales game. Not the market. Not your product. Not even your pitch. It’s the fear of being rejected. The fear of sounding pushy. The fear of not knowing what to say. If you’re not converting, it’s probably not strategy - it’s mindset. Let’s breakdown the 10 most common fears holding you back in sales and how to crush them. No fluff. No excuses. Just straight-up practical tips to help you sell with confidence. Time to stop hesitating - and start closing. Which of these fears have you struggled with in the past - and what did you do to manage it or get over it? —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

I sucked at sales when I started. Nervous. Awkward. Overthinking every word. But I kept swinging… Pitches that flopped. Deals that slipped away. Cold calls that went nowhere. Every bad swing hurt - but it built something inside that no one can take away from me… Confidence. I started to believe that I’m capable of doing hard things and succeeding. Because once you believe in yourself, you move differently. You show up bigger. You take bigger shots. And suddenly… you start getting “lucky.” The more swings you take… the more confident you become… the luckier you get. Put in the work. Stay in the game. Bet on yourself. You’ve got this. 👊🏽😎 #sales #confidence #success —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

“Why bother asking for help when you already know everything??” A few months ago, a small business owner booked a meeting with me. He asked me to drive out to his office - he wanted help selling his business. When I arrived, he had a full page of questions ready. But instead of asking and listening… He launched into a 45-minute monologue about why his business should be worth top dollar. I couldn’t get a word in - no matter how hard I tried. At one point, his wife kindly stepped in and asked him to let me explain how we could actually help. He cut her off and told her to shut up. Eventually, I had to interrupt: “Mr. Smith - have you sold a business before?” “No,” he said, “that’s why I asked you here.” “Exactly,” I replied. “If you let me speak, I could answer a lot of your questions and show you our process for selling your business properly.” But he kept talking… So I sat there out of respect, shook his hand at the end… Then drove away… never to speak to him again. He wasted my time. But he cost himself something far more valuable: The opportunity to sell his business through a reputable company with a solid database of over 50,000 potential buyers - some of whom have bought multiple businesses through us over the past 20 years. Moral of the story: If you’re asking for help, be ready to shut up and listen. —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

“I posted a massive win but LinkedIn crucified me for it - with less than 30 impressions in over an hour.” Meanwhile, I see 💩 sh*t posts go viral. No real value. No insight. Just noise. So yeah - I’m confused and a bit frustrated. I ended up deleting it, closed my laptop and went to bed. This was a genuine win I was proud of. I wasn’t trying to flex or show off. Just sharing something that I thought might inspire or help others. But LinkedIn didn’t like it. Or maybe it just didn’t look like the kind of win the algorithm wants. So here’s what I’m wondering… • Are we over-optimizing for engagement? • Are real stories being drowned out by performative fluff? • Is the game now about formatting, hooks, and timing more than value? I’m all for growth and learning how the platform works - but I also want to keep showing up as myself. So if you’ve cracked the code, good for you - I’m all ears. And if you’ve felt this similar type of frustration, too… you’re not alone. What’s really working on LinkedIn right now - and how do you share WINS without looking like you’re bragging or chasing clout? #winning #linkedin #success

“No one cares about your process.” Not your frameworks, clever acronyms, or the number of steps in your “signature method.” All they care about is this: “Will this person help me get what I want - faster and easier than I could on my own?” That’s it. But we spend so much time trying to sound smart, explaining how we do what we do… … when all your client is thinking is: “Can you help me get the result I’m after?” So talk about that. - What changes after they work with you? - What becomes easier? - What does life or business look like on the other side? Because no one books a call thinking, “I can’t wait to hear about their 6-step strategy.” They’re thinking: “Please let this be the person who finally helps me figure this out.” Speak to that. Make it easy for them to see the win. And when they win - you do, too.

“Kindness is a sign of weakness.” It’s one of the biggest lies we’ve been sold in business. Yet the most successful people I’ve met? They’d disagree. Because the truth is… Kindness is a strategic advantage - especially in business. I’ve spent the past two decades selling everything from cars to real estate - even mobile phones and digital marketing services. I also built a food business from scratch - purely through cold calls and knocking on the doors of cafes, restaurants, and pubs to get clients. Face to face. Over the phone. Cold calls, warm leads, walk-ins… you name it. And not once did being pushy win the deal. But genuine kindness? That created trust. And trust opened doors. The kind of doors that stay shut when you’re just chasing the close. You see - a lot of people get this wrong… Kindness is not about being soft. It’s about showing up with empathy, clarity, and respect - even when the stakes are high. In fact, the strongest people I know are also the kindest. They know their worth. They don’t need to dominate. They play the long game - because they know that’s where the real wins are. So if someone tells you kindness doesn’t belong in sales or business? Smile. Keep doing your thing. Because the right people? They notice. They remember. Remember this… Kindness doesn’t just build connections. It builds legacy. But something tells me… You already knew that. Am I right? —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost to share with your network. —————————————————— #sales #kindness #success

If you’re not into seeing someone WIN - this post probably isn’t for you. But if you’re the type to celebrate other people’s progress (big or small), read on. First of… I can’t believe I had to fight for this role - but I’m glad I did. (I won’t share that here - that’s another story which I previously posted about.) I just took a moment to pause and reflect on the past few months… And honestly? I was surprised at how far I’ve come. So today, I’m celebrating a few small wins. Although some of the wins you’re about to see below are not that small at all. Sharing them in case someone out there needs the reminder - progress doesn’t always feel big until you zoom out. This role has opened the door to some incredible conversations with business owners navigating their next chapter. Some are planning their exit… Others are still uncovering the true value of what they’ve built. Here are just a few of the businesses and face-to-face conversations I’ve been involved with recently: • A 7-figure garage door business • A 7-figure landscaping company • A 7-figure food transport operation • An 8-figure science and tech firm • A 7-figure glass and aluminium windows manufacturer • A 7-figure signage and vehicle wrap design business • A 7-figure hydraulics parts distribution company And that’s just the beginning. I’ve also had some great chats with owners in: • Commercial cleaning • Events equipment hire • Crane truck services • Roads & parks construction • Food manufacturing • Electrical services • An 8-figure plumbing company And just recently, I connected with the founders of a long-established wholesale parts distribution company - one that supplies major brands, including some of the biggest names in defence and aerospace. No two clients are the same, and that’s what makes this work so rewarding. Every single conversation reminds me that… People don’t just build businesses… They build lives, legacies, and futures. That’s the end game. And I’m proud to play a part in helping them take the next step. Not bad for a role I had to fight for. (I shared that story not long ago - I’ll drop the link in the first comment below.) PS: If you’re at a turning point in your business - or just curious about what the next step could look like - let’s talk. We’re based in Sydney, Australia, and have been helping business owners across the country for 20 years. If you’re in the US, no worries - we’ve got a team on the ground in Hawaii too. DM me “EXIT” and someone from our team will reach out for a friendly chat. #business #sales #success —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

Nobody likes getting ghosted… but this one, simple move can help you change that starting today. Here’s how I take back control and boost my conversions over time. We’ve all been there. You put in the work - the calls, the follow-ups - and then… silence. It’s frustrating. It’s draining. It feels personal (even though it rarely is). But before you mark them as “Lost” or “Not Interested,” send them this one last email. It’s called a break-up email. You might have heard of it… but do you actually use it? Here’s a quick scenario: You’ve had a few good conversations. They seemed interested. Maybe even asked about pricing or next steps. Then… crickets. Instead of chasing endlessly or sitting in limbo, you take control. You send a short, respectful break-up email like one of these. [SEE CAROUSEL] Hit send - and you’re done. It’s simple. It’s direct. It puts you back in control. Now here’s the magic… Sometimes, they come back. They reply. They re-engage. They move forward. Just like the prospective clients I screenshotted for you (see carousel 8, near the last page). And if they don’t? That’s okay too. You get the clarity you need to move on - confidently and without second-guessing yourself. Sales is hard enough. You don’t need dead weight in your pipeline. Have you ever sent a break-up email before? How did it go? #sales #business #success —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Here to share real-life lessons from my journey and over 20 years in the Sales industry. Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————

They said I didn’t have the right experience... I said, “Just show me what I need to learn and I’ll get it done.” True story… I applied for a role in an industry I had zero experience in. Told them straight up - “I don’t know this industry, but I know how to sell.” They asked if I was good with numbers. The role involved reviewing P&Ls, balance sheets, and business performance reports. I said, “No, but I can learn that. Just show me.” A few weeks later, I got the rejection email. They gave the job to someone else - someone with more “experience in numbers.” Now here’s where most people stop. They take one rejection and walk away. But I felt in my gut I could deliver. Because deep down, I knew what this role really was: a sales position. They needed someone who could: - communicate clearly - build trust and rapport - guide business owners thinking of selling to take the next step; So I replied to the email. Told them why I still believed I was the right person. After all… I used to be a business owner myself. And I’ve got over 20 years of sales experience under my belt. Yes… I once co-founded a food service business that turned over just under $1M. That business was my original idea, and I built it from scratch. It wasn’t massive - but it was real work that kept us grinding: - door knocking and cold calling to land new clients - shaking hands with chefs, restaurateurs, and café owners - waking up at 4am, six days a week, to prep and pack orders - battling Sydney's peak hour traffic and delivering stock - hauling heavy cartons of fresh meat and smallgoods, rain or shine! I knew what it took to run a small business. I knew how to speak to business owners - because I’d been one. So I sent the email, not expecting much. But I backed myself. A couple of weeks later, I got a call from the Manager: “Can you come in for another chat?” Turns out, the person they hired quit after a few days. They offered me the job. I said yes. Here's what happened next... In my first two months, I signed two clients - both 7-figure businesses looking to exit. Then a few people on the team told me I’d set a new record for the fastest WIN in that role. Since then, I’ve signed more clients. One of them? An 8-figure business. The win didn’t come easy. But it came because I didn’t give up on myself. Ever had to fight for a role you knew you were right for? #ambition #motivation #lifelessons ------------------------------------ I’m Edison from Sydney. I have no course to sell you. Here to share my life lessons and the lessons I’ve learned from over 20 years in the Sales industry. * Like this post? * Hit Like, Comment & Follow. * Save this post if you found it helpful. * Repost ♻️ to share with your network. ------------------------------------

“You don’t have to be an a**hole to win.” I know the type. Loud. Pushy. Fake confident. Leadership becomes ego. Sales becomes a performance. Success becomes a solo sport. But here’s the truth: The best people I know? They listen more than they speak. They lead with integrity. They win with people, not over them. Remember… Being kind doesn’t make you weak. Being honest doesn’t make you naive. Being respectful doesn’t slow you down. The real flex? Building a successful career or business without stepping on people to get there. Play the long game. Your name is your reputation. And your reputation is your leverage. If you lose that… Then no title, no money, no “wins” will ever be worth it. Because real success? It’s not just about what you build. It’s about how you build it. Agree? —————————————————— I’m Edison from Sydney, Australia. Sharing lessons learned from over 20 years in Sales. 📈 Like this post? Hit Like, Comment & Follow. Save this post if you found it helpful. Repost 🔁 to share with your network. ——————————————————