This is a YouTube interview-style testimonial (host: Eric Deeran) with a client, Maddie, who reports closing $13,000 in one week after engaging with Eric's Master Filmmaker program. The conversation covers Maddie's background (freelancer in Minnesota who started a production company), her prior struggles with sales, how the program's sales training (mock calls, sales frameworks, objection-handling, accessible mentorship) changed her approach to consulting (shifting from a 'take orders' freelancer mindset to diagnostic, authority-driven conversations), and the role of authenticity in closing deals. Maddie highlights outcomes beyond revenue — improved questioning, client-first mindset, and transferable communication skills. The video was published on April 22, 2024.
Questions this video answers
$13,000 ("closed 13k in the past week")
April 22, 2024
Eric Deeran (host) and Maddie (client)
Chapters
What's going on, guys? I'm here with one of our clients, Mattie, who just closed 13k in the past week. What's going on, Matti? How are you?
I'm great, Eric.
Well, I guess for anybody who maybe doesn't know you and a little bit about your business, do you mind just giving us a little bit of background on you and kind of what you do?
Sure. So I. In Minnesota, up in the, up in the cold part of the country and I have, I was freelancer for several years, started a production company or a production company, came across well. I've been seeing Eric's ads for years.
And just annoying you in your feed and just going crazy and just.
Yeah, so persistence pays off, that's one thing. But I, what caught my attention was not like I had been told by many guru to do lots of video pitches and all the outbound kind of stuff. And it was really attractive to me to potentially have a system that helps bring inbound leads. But yeah, so we, this, this business that I've been trying to grow can't be grown without revenue. So it's been helpful to, to really learn business and systems and automations and sales in particular.
So yeah, I feel like most of what we've been working on right now is sales. Obviously we're getting the inbound system set up as we speak. But like from. I know when you came in, we, we fixed a couple things within the sales process to help with some of those things. What, I guess within the sales part, what do you feel like was kind of the biggest bottleneck for you or what were some things that you kind of had big takeaways on?
Sure. Well, frankly, I had no idea how to do sales and was never trained how to. Objection. Handle how to take someone and really selflessly look at their desired outcomes and their problems as like a practitioner rather than just coming in with a guns blow, freelancer mindset.
Cause I feel like a lot of people come in with that, hey, I'm gonna come in. You tell me what you want and I'll come in and we'll. And I'll just, I'll take orders from you. And, and it's kind of, it seems like you've really switched into that. Like, hey, let me diagnose, let me be the expert, let me figure out what you need. And positioning yourself as more of an authority in those conversations, for sure.
Yeah. And you know, we use video as one of our tools, but it's definitely also made me be open to showing my clients other solutions that might be better fits for what they're looking for. And that's something that I can offer, but it's more of a, hey, like, this is the problem you're having, and here are some ways that we can. We could potentially solve it, but maybe we can't. And that's. I just think that clients really appreciate the honesty and that just being real.
And having a real conversation. Yeah. Cause, like, I mean, if. If all you do is take orders from the clients, like, they're not really going to feel like you have their best interests. You're just taking orders like a server at a restaurant. Whereas, like, if you can figure out what they need, what they're looking for, and then just give them, hey, maybe this isn't the best fit for you. Or maybe this is the best fit. Here's what I think you should. You should go with. I feel like you do build a lot more authenticity and trust within those conversations, for sure. Yeah, that totally makes sense. Was there anything, like, particularly about the program that you feel like has been helpful thus far? Because obviously you're still going through it.
Yep.
Like, is there anything so far that you feel like has been helpful for you?
I think the sales training has been the most helpful for me this far.
Yeah.
Everything from being able to do mock calls, to be being given a framework to jump off of in questions to ask, or ways of navigating people's money objections or fears or anything like that. And then not only sales calls, but also that you guys are accessible at any time for me to ask questions about, like, sales offers or specific deliverables. And, you know, it worked because you're all about getting. Giving results to people. And so I'm able to transfer that to my calls and clients and being like, hey, this is going to work. This isn't something cute and beautiful. It's gonna work.
Yeah. I remember we were talking one time. You're like, should I really pitch this thing? Should I really, like, say this? I'm like, yes, Maddie, like, do that exactly how he said it. You're like, I don't know. And then he did it. And it's like, you see. You see the response from it. You see people, like, actually getting back to you instead of kind of stringing them along. Were you. I guess, were you someone who would send a lot of proposals over emails? You know, my whole. My whole gripe with that. But are you someone. You feel like you sent those, or did you do it more on the calls?
I. I definitely was introduced to the idea. I Didn't send a ton of loom videos or video pitches, frankly, because it was exhausting. Like, I didn't want to have to do that. And I just. I guess the biggest gap I felt was how do you create a relationship? And especially over email or, like, when you're doing outbound yourself, like, how do you build that relationship without it being sterile or fake or whatever? And so to reverse that, act as an. As a. An authority or somebody who is more of a practitioner. And having people come to you and ask for help makes it a lot easier.
Yeah. Yeah. Because you hold. I feel like you hold the frame in those conversations where they're looking up to you, like, hey, what do I do? And it's more of an authentic feel. Yeah. I mean, we definitely don't want to be slimy or sleazy or salesy or anything like that. We just want to have authentic conversations. And sometimes that means getting real with people at the end of the day and being blunt with them. I know you said you had a previous conversation where it's like, hey, I don't think you need this. Like, and you said that person really appreciated that deal you just closed. Like, hey, I really appreciate you just teaching me, telling it to me how it is. And I think a lot of times it doesn't come down to as much tactics. It comes down, how do I authentically talk to this person and help them, you know?
Yeah. And the biggest challenge I've had thus far and probably will is just getting in my own head or just not trusting that I see a problem and being able to communicate that, like, don't. Like holding back and being fearful about what they're going to think or fearful that it isn't. Not confident that it is the right thing or afraid. Like, you're so concerned in closing the deal that you're unwilling to say the truth because you're just so obsessed with the money or whatever. So it's just pressing more into the. Being truthful is definitely 100% what you should do.
100%? Yeah. I mean, when. When a client feels like you can actually you care about their problem independent of the solution of the outcome of the sales call, that's when they really feel like you have their best interest at heart. So I think that. Absolutely. Last question, Matty. I'll let you get back to closing deals here. But I guess if anyone is maybe on the fence about even just booking a call and speaking with our team, I guess what advice would you. Would you give them?
Hmm. Well, if you're anything like me, you've done hoops in your mind trying to figure out whether or not it's worth it. And you aren't going to get rich quick, but you are going to invest in like, think about it, like education. That is priceless really and to me is invaluable because not only am I learning skills that do transfer to my business and do produce results and it is generating me income, but it's also helping me in my life being better question asker. And I'm seeking to understand people better because I'm asking better questions and my framework of regular day life is less about me and more about the person that I'm talking to and how I could potentially help them, but like really seeking to know them. And to me, like, that's just not even. It's beyond business. And so I think that that business, like video business people and non video business people could benefit from your program. But specifically with video businesses, maybe we'll.
Start giving relationship and communication advice. I don't know.
Yeah, no, but it's.
It's true. I mean, sales really does. It changes you as a person because all sales is. Is proper communication. That's all.
Yeah.
We give you a framework to help you properly communicate in a way you care about something. That's it.
Y.
You know, I love it. Well, Maddie, I'm excited to see where you go from here and, and to your continued success. I appreciate your time and we'll. We'll talk to you.
