---
title: I Am Sales - Kelly Perdew
description: "Kelly Perdew - From \"The Long Gray Line\" to Donald Trump sits down with Inbound Marketing trainer, Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer®."
image: https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hubfs/Blog_Featured_Images/pexels-1888014.jpg
---

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 Jun 13, 2025

# I Am Sales - Kelly Perdew

![Picture of Wes Schaeffer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Wes%20Schaeffer%2c%20The%20Sales%20Whisperer%20black%20white.png?width=50&name=Wes%20Schaeffer%2c%20The%20Sales%20Whisperer%20black%20white.png) [Wes Schaeffer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/author/wes-schaeffer)

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## Kelly Perdew - From "The Long Gray Line" to Donald Trump

![Kelly Perdew. Sales Professional. West Point. ](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kelly_perdew.jpg?width=164&height=208&name=kelly_perdew.jpg "kelly_perdew")

Below is the result of our interview with Kelly.

## **Sales Overview**

**How long have you been in sales?** Everybody is in sales their whole life! ;) I've been in formal sales since I raised angel and VC money for my first venture in 1995.

**How did you get started?** I needed to sell the concept of a company and raise investment dollars.

**What do you like most about sales?** Closing. Every close is a validation of the business concept and enables additional growth in the business.

**What sales method do you follow?** None. Every type of sale is different, every customer/investor is different, and every business is different.

**What is the name of your best sales manager ever?** (so far!) Steve Wynne -- the ex-CEO of adidas North America.

**What made this manager so good?** Empathy and intelligence. He connects with everyone that he speaks to and is incredibly smart so he can quickly understand what they value in any deal.

**What made your worst manager so bad?** (No comment here.)

**How do you prepare for a big meeting?** Exhaustive research on the target and 1-2 practice rounds. Plan for contingencies.

## **Selling Track Record**

**What is the most you ever sold in a year?** I'm in the process of raising a $100M VC fund. That will be the largest sale for me.

**How long did it take to book your biggest order?** Everyone told us it would take us 2 years to raise a first-time fund. Looks like they were right!

**Why did the customer buy from you?** Team, product, persistence.

## **Private Life**

**What is your favorite movie?** A Few Good Men. My military background has numerous business applications and the "lead, follow or get out of the way" mentality needs to be institutionalized in more companies.

**Who is a role model to you?** Leonardo Da Vinci.

**How do you relax?** Working out, reading, fly-fishing.

**What 3 people would you like have to dinner?**

**How do you start the day?** 30-60 minutes on me. Development, new deals, reading, whatever. But something to make me better. Pay yourself first.

**How do you end work each day?** Set up the list for tomorrow.

## **Technology & Strategy**

**What smartphone - pda do you use?** 100% digital workplace.

**What PIM/CRM do you use?** I've used Salesforce.com but typically fall back to excel.

**How do you stay organized?** DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.

**How do you prevent a slump?** Always measure everything. If you're measuring it, you can impact it.

## **Changes**

How do you want to be described in a sentence? An organized and professional leader.

## **Alternative Universe**

**If you were not in sales, what would you do instead?** My dream has been to be a Venture Capitalist.

## **Closing Question**

**How is it to be interviewed by the Sales Whisperer?** Fantastic.

[custom AI solution development](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/custom-ai-solution-development), [Sales Training](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/sales-training), [ROI of AI](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/roi-of-ai)

## Related posts

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 Jun 13, 2025

Ever stretched a piece of rebar until it breaks?

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[custom AI solution development](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/custom-ai-solution-development), [Sales Training](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/sales-training), [ROI of AI](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/roi-of-ai)

## [Who's Pushing You To Do Something New?](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/whos-pushing-you-sales-coaching-for-the-motivated)

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 Jun 13, 2025

(Kids Provide The Best Sales Coaching) "Ella Bella" is 4 (back in 2011). Yesterday Ella

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[custom AI solution development](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/custom-ai-solution-development), [Sales Training](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/sales-training), [ROI of AI](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/roi-of-ai)

## [Learn To Fight So You Can Make Every Sale | Business Coaching](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/get-tough-make-every-sale-business-coaching)

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