Written by Sean McPheat | 
Last week at the National Sales Conference, I was officially named the #1 Sales Influencer in the UK as part of the Top 100 Sales Influencers Index 2025.
Not bad for a lad who started his career working in a bookies aged 18, trying to upsell bets to punters more interested in the odds on the 3:15 at Cheltenham than anything I had to say!
That’s where I first learned the power of persuasion, timing, and knowing your audience. All of it learned on the fly with no sales training, no CRM, or polished sales pitch in sight. It was all about people skills and a lot of graft (plus developing a very thick skin!)
This award wasn’t just a popularity contest.
The rankings were data-driven. Measured by an independent research partner using three key engagement metrics:
All of this was combined into what they called an Engagement Quality Score, meaning this list recognised real influence, not vanity metrics. So, when they called out my name at #1, I was proud, not just for me, but for the sales professionals, leaders, and companies I’ve been lucky enough to work with over the years.
Let’s be honest, it’s never been harder to cut through the noise in sales. What used to work doesn’t anymore. Buyers are smarter. The game has changed. So yes, I might have the trophy. But this win? It’s about the work. It’s about showing up consistently. Sharing what actually works. And helping others in a world where trust is hard to earn, and even harder to keep.
Over the years, I’ve tried to strip back the fluff and give people practical tools they can use right away, whether that’s asking better questions, coaching their sales team more effectively, or just surviving in a tough quarter.
And after years of sharing those tools in keynotes, training sessions, and posts, I’ve pulled together what I believe is my most practical resource yet – my latest book!
“500 Sales Questions That Close The Deal” is designed to do exactly what it says on the cover.
Whether you’re new to sales or leading a seasoned team, the right question can open doors, overcome the objection, and move deals forward.
This book gives you 500 of them — ready to use, pressure-tested in real-world situations, and built to help you sell smarter, not harder.
You can grab it now on Amazon in paperback or Kindle.
In closing, this award is a reminder that staying useful matters. So, whether you’ve been following me for years or only just connected, thank you.
Every comment, every share, every DM. It means a lot.
And it pushes me to keep raising the bar.
More to come. Plenty more.
Happy Selling!
Sean
Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Sales Training
Updated on: 9 July, 2025
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