In this deeply personal TEDx Talk, Dan reveals the truth about influence: it’s not about control, pressure, or persuasion. It’s about trust. And trust begins within.

Link of the full Tedx Talk: https://youtu.be/ASs9SfieDsE?si=lhlNGivMn9pHjViH

Dan vulnerably shares his battle with alcoholism and the mentor, Dave, who helped him find his way out. Through that experience, he discovered a simple but transformative Communication Model built on three pillars:

• Connect energetically
• Ask adept questions
• Actively listen

You’ll learn why the “influence gap” exists, how to close it, and why trying harder often pushes people further away. Dan also shares a moving story about his daughter Maggie and the moment he realized that true connection starts with being emotionally present.

In sales, leadership, and life, influence isn’t something you take — it’s something you earn through connection. And in a time when technology can deliver information but not care, mastering human connection may be your greatest competitive advantage.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

● Why trust is the foundation of influence in sales and leadership
● What the “influence gap” is and how to close it
● The three-part Communication Model for deeper human connection
● How to ask adept questions that uncover what truly matters
● Why active listening is more powerful than persuasion
● How influencing yourself is the first step to influencing others
● Why human connection matters more than ever in the age of AI

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

● How to uncover hidden objections in sales conversations
● The right way to challenge price objections without confrontation
● How cause-and-effect language distorts buyer thinking
● The smart way to handle trust-based objections
● How to break “mind reading” assumptions in prospects
● Why value judgments (“lost performatives”) weaken buying decisions
● How the Meta-Model helps you close more deals with confidence

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

What you’ll learn in this episode:

● What deletions are in the Meta-Model and why they matter in sales

● How simple deletions create uncertainty (and the exact question to ask)

● How to handle “they” objections using referential index clarification

● How comparative deletions hide competitor comparisons

● Why vague language is the real reason deals stall

● How precise questions build trust and accelerate closing

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

Marketing & Sales | Private Equity | Corporate Strategy

Chris Van Dusen is a marketing and growth professional with extensive early-stage and capitalization experience. He is the founder of Parcon Media (now Parcon LLC), former Chief Growth Officer of Balanced Health Botanicals, and a key growth partner behind Surf City Still Works.

Chris launched Parcon Media and scaled it to $1.5M in top-line revenue in under two years before merging into what is now Parcon LLC. The agency worked with brands including Travis Mathew, Experian, University of California Irvine, University of California Office of the President, and Maglite.

As Chief Growth Officer of Balanced Health Botanicals (BHB) in Denver, CO, Chris allocated and deployed a ~$20 million marketing budget to democratize CBD and scale BHB into the largest supplier of hemp-derived CBD globally. His strategy fueled massive DTC and brick-and-mortar growth through 2019 and navigated the shifting COVID-19 landscape in 2020—culminating in a $75M sale to Village Farms (NASDAQ: VFF) in August 2021.

Simultaneously, Chris helped scale Surf City Still Works in Orange County, CA. He expanded marketing, retained Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (the largest spirits distributor in the U.S.), raised $3.7M in capital, and moved operations into a 25,000 sq ft manufacturing facility—the first of its kind in Orange County. He also built a world-class advisory board including Bob McKnight (Founder of Quiksilver) and Travis Brasher (Founder of Travis Mathew), leading to a merger with Kimo Sabe, a Los Angeles-based mezcal company.

Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the College of William and Mary. He has served on boards including the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF). He is a member of Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO), Young Executive Council (YEC), a National Board member of Alder, and has previously been a member of PTTOW!. Chris frequently speaks on marketing, growth, product-market fit, and brand building.

● Why truly understanding your customer is the foundation of scalable growth
● How conversion rate optimization can 5X your ROI without increasing ad spend
● The difference between lifestyle businesses and venture-scale companies
● What venture capital investors actually look for before writing a check
● Why focus beats chasing every opportunity
● How discipline, grit, and “doing hard things” build elite entrepreneurs
● The balance between confidence and coachability in leadership

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismvandusen/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisvandusen
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialcvd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christophervandusen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismvandusen/

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

What you’ll learn in this episode:

● Why most sales objections are surface-level distortions
● How to challenge cause-and-effect statements without being confrontational
● The power of asking “According to whom?” in value-based objections
● How to uncover hidden fears behind pricing resistance
● The lead-benefit-benefit framework for ethical influence
● How pace-pace-bind gives prospects ownership of the decision
● Why clarity beats pressure in every sales conversation
● How the brain filters 11.2 million bits of data down to 40–50—and how to guide that focus

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

● Why success is determined by consistent daily activity — not short-term results

● How your habits shape your identity and long-term income

● How to play to your superpower to stand out in any market

● What truly drives sales motivation (vision, discipline, growth, and environment)

● How to follow the 12-month roadmap to build predictable income in 2025

● Why joining a supportive community accelerates growth and success

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

What you’ll learn in this episode:
● The unusual method Dan used to build unshakable confidence in sales
● Why most people quit right before they succeed and how to make sure you don’t
● The “Borrowed Faith” strategy that allows you to gain confidence instantly
● How focusing on activity, not results, is the key to consistent success
● Why success is a direct reflection of your daily habits

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

What you’ll learn in this episode:
● The hidden reason why most people fail right before they succeed
● How to override limiting beliefs and build confidence when you feel stuck
● A real-life story of pushing past 64 rejections to unlock massive opportunity
● The self-coaching framework that changes how you see failure
● Why blind faith in the right actions creates predictable income

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead