What happens when buyers or sellers insist on getting their way—or else?

In this episode, Bryan Lefelhoc digs into a familiar but uncomfortable truth: when ground rules aren’t set, adults start acting like children. And in sales, that rarely ends well.

Using a simple (and very real) family story, Bryan walks through why tantrums happen in business relationships, how unclear expectations create friction, and what it looks like to be the adult in the room—especially when the other side refuses to be.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key takeaways

-When rules aren’t defined, people default to their own

-“Me first” behavior shows up on both sides of the sales table

-Clear expectations early prevent emotional blowups later

-Defining success upfront changes how both sides behave

-You don’t have to mirror childish behavior to move things forward

-If you’re the only adult in the room, act like it

-Strong relationships are built on clarity, not concession

Helpful Links:

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

Sales is hard enough. It shouldn’t matter whether the seller is male or female. Sadly, it often does. Credibility is questioned. Assumptions are made. Meetings slip into after-hours settings, boundaries blur, and professionalism becomes something to manage instead of something to rely on. It shapes how women sell and what they’re up against every day, and that’s not right.

In this episode of Purpose Under Pressure, host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, talks with Lauren Valentine, Partner at Sandler by the Ruby Group, who is leading the organization’s expansion into New York’s Capital Region.

The conversation ranges from equal stature in sales to ageism and the unique pressures women face in revenue-generating roles. Lauren explains how preparation, upfront contracts, and disarmingly honest conversations allow sellers of both sexes to earn respect rather than demand it.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Equal stature is earned through preparation and can be attained by any seller in any situation.

-Trust is earned. Respect should be expected from both the seller and the buyer from the very beginning.

-If a prospect won’t meet during business hours, that’s a qualification signal that shows the buyer may not be interested in the same things that you are.

-Walking away can strengthen credibility.

-Likability is not a substitute for structure and process

-Clear boundaries protect both professionalism and purpose

-Confidence grows when sellers stop trying to be “chosen.”

-Ethical selling requires courage under pressure that demands results at all costs.

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Helpful Links:

Lauren Valentine, Partner, Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/

There are moments in life when quitting would make complete sense. When the pressure is just too much, and the purpose can’t seem to stay afloat. When the dream you were building suddenly feels impossible to carry alone. And yet, some people keep going anyway. They are called to finish what was started, no matter what it takes.

In this episode of Purpose Under Pressure, host Bryan Lefelhoc, founder of Bryan Media Strategies, talks with Brenda Lee Cutlip, president of Shelby Joes. Brenda’s husband and business partner “Shelby Joe” passed away as they were building the family business. She talks about faith, perseverance, and what it looks like to keep building, even when that means going it alone.

How did she do it? From early local partnerships to growing regional distribution and future opportunities with larger chains, she explains how trust, relationships, and patience have helped to keep their dreams alive.

Purpose Under Pressure is brought to you in partnership with Sandler by the Ruby Group, serving sales professionals and sales organizations nationwide from their locations in Akron and Columbus, Ohio, in Capital Region, New York, and in Jacksonville, Florida

Key Takeaways:

-Pressure intensifies when the circumstances become almost unbearable

-Faith can be a stabilizing force when plans fall apart

-Community support often shows up when you least expect it

-Growth doesn’t require certainty, just willingness

-Loss can reshape a dream without ending it

-Listening for peace can matter more than listening to opinions

-Small confirmations can carry you through big uncertainty

-You don’t need a safety net to take a meaningful step forward

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Helpful Links:

Brenda Lee Cutlip, President, Shelby Joes: https://shelbyjoes.com/

Sandler by the Ruby Group: https://go.sandler.com/therubygroup/

Bryan Lefelhoc, Owner, Bryan Media Strategies: https://www.bryanmediastrategies.com/