It Comes Down To This… Letting Go of Sales to Grow Your Business

What if holding onto every sale is the very thing stalling your company’s growth?

In this episode of It Comes Down To This…, I sit down with Aaron Gutowski, a fractional sales leader who’s helped countless owner-operators scale their businesses by stepping back from sales. We dive into why founders struggle to hand off the sales role, the tipping point that forces change, and how to build a sales team that delivers without losing your company’s soul. Aaron shares stories of transforming overwhelmed CEOs into strategic leaders by creating systems, playbooks, and processes that drive new business—without them burning out.

If you’re an owner drowning in sales responsibilities, this episode will show you how to let go and grow.

Guest Introduction:
Aaron Gutowski is a fractional sales leader and partner at Chief Outsiders, with a rich history leading sales teams for large corporations and small businesses alike. After a corporate career capped by a significant equity payout, Aaron shifted to helping owner-operators scale by building effective sales organizations. His approach focuses on creating tailored sales systems, leveraging data-driven playbooks, and fostering trust, allowing CEOs to focus on strategy while their teams drive growth. Aaron’s insights have helped companies from $5 million to $100 million in revenue break through growth plateaus.

Key Takeaways:
– Owners often hit a growth wall when they run out of time, capping revenue because they’re still the primary salesperson.

– A fractional sales leader can build processes and teams to free up owners, giving them time for strategy and personal life.

– Effective sales systems start with understanding the customer journey, not random acts of selling.

– Lead scoring and ROI calculators help prioritize high-value prospects and close deals faster.

– Hiring salespeople with ego drive, empathy, and resilience is key to building a winning sales culture.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 Why Marketing Alone Doesn’t Drive Growth  
01:20 Meet Steve Margerin: Fractional Sales Leader and Growth Strategist  
04:02 Diagnosing the Real Problem Behind Flatlined Sales  
08:10 How Misalignment Between Marketing and Sales Slows Growth  
13:14 The Four Lanes Every Business Must Master  
18:22 Why Many Companies Stall at $5M–$10M in Revenue  
23:45 How to Build a Sales Team That Actually Sells  
29:08 The Hidden Cost of Founder-Led Sales  
34:30 What to Fix First: People, Process, or Pipeline?  
39:52 Scaling Without Losing Your Soul or Your Team  
44:05 Final Thoughts – Selling Is Serving (If You Do It Right)

Keywords:
Aaron Gutowski, Monte Clark, It Comes Down To This podcast, fractional sales leadership, sales systems, business growth, owner-operator challenges, sales process, customer journey, lead scoring, ROI calculators, sales team building, marketing and sales alignment, scaling businesses, sales culture, trust in leadership