---
title: How to Be a Hands-Off CEO, Mandi Ellefson Returns
description: Mandi Ellefson explores the challenges faced by CEOs and the struggles of business owners feeling trapped by their own success.
image: https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mandi%20Ellefson%20681%20The%20Sales%20Podcast.png
---

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[Get The Daily](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/daily)

 Oct 22, 2024

# How to Be a Hands-Off CEO, Mandi Ellefson Returns

![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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## "How to get un-trapped by your business success."

***[\[ LISTEN NOW ON APPLE PODCASTS \]](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sales-whisperer-wes-schaeffer-hosts-the-sales-podcast/id655310847?mt=2)***

<iframe class="hs-responsive-embed-iframe" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" title="YouTube video player" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" xml="lang" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-3sb_Fv9KPs?si=btXtyjv9bi4HbAvO" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen data-service="youtube"></iframe>

 

<iframe style="border-radius: 12px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" xml="lang" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0tCteYFk2Vf70MyCA6kNll?utm_source=generator" width="560" height="152" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen loading="lazy"></iframe>

## [Sales Tips](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/daily) you'll learn today on [The Sales Podcast](https://www.thesaleswhisperer.com/podcast)...

- Sales create problems for operations.
- When you're flush with leads, you can say no to bad prospects.
- The Hands-Off CEO: podcast, website, book, training, etc.
- The book was released in Dec 2023...she re-wrote it five times.
- How to keep your business from becoming a ball-and-chain.
- What are we best at...and what does the market want?
- Customers want to buy results, but they end up reluctantly buying services.
- The focus here is on professional services where the business owner is the one that is being "bought."

 

<https://thesaleswhisperer.com/best-crms>

<https://thesaleswhisperer.com/best-crms>[![Score My Pipeline](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/443614/interactive-178194433547.png)](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKvEoudDEyQHvcsi5J4che2wtPwWZGDyp26w5RDqpWLr7qlWz4%2FT1mMxqibTiHOwdykLerK6Vdt5qSabXphYGDf7C9sHyd2tNMe1ez8wFRjA8mVPEybnHvALBs9ICxUpY30CQIj4dhAKDKlNBPk7kzVrW9e687ySs7cD8i%2FZaGkTo1avOfp130JyD8fca6XAF7u9IbA13KP&webInteractiveContentId=178194433547&portalId=443614)

- You must be selective with those you take on as clients.
- When you have a weak pipeline, you take on crappy clients.

> What's the biggest transformation we can create for a particular client type?”

- Who is the client? What are their needs?
- Start by narrowing down whom you can help and how, then broaden the net as needed.
- Ask why you failed with clients.
- She helps companies solve big problems.
- Be choosy and selective.
- Put your foot down and deliver results with a proven process.
- She does retreats to help CEOs expand their vision.
- You need a good offer to make outbound selling work.
- "Who can you generate results for and under what conditions?"
- Be specific with your offer.
- Have an irresistible offer.
- Her client was booked solid with the wrong types of clients.
- What is the real transformation you are offering?
- Poverty thinking is bad for you.
- Work from a position and attitude of abundance.
- If you can't sell via cold outbound, you can't sell.
- LinkedIn Navigator helps you narrow the search and find active prospects.
- Export the list or buy a list from Apollo.
- Show up as a professional and add value.
- How can you "show up with coffee" in the digital world?
- Mandi leads with a free copy of her book.

**GUEST INFO:**

- Guest Site: https://handsoffceo.com/book
- Guest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handsoffceo
- Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandiellefson/
- Guest Instagram: @handsoffceo and @mandiellefson
- Guest X: @mandiellefson

## [Sales Growth Tools](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/inner-circle) Mentioned In The Sales Podcast

- [Need a sales keynote? I’m Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer®. Start here.](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/sales-keynote-speaker)
- [Book the Fit Call for 12 Weeks To Peak™](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/12-weeks-to-peak)
- [Use These Tools To Grow](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/best-crms)
- [Get The “Whisper Starter Pack](https://whisperpack.carrd.co/)"

[![Twelve weeks. Live deals. We start in 48 hours. Book The Fit Call](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/443614/interactive-184500196010.png)](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKnLz%2B%2Bzem2Spb033b0OCCi2SWw%2Fas5IOY5X3htZa5ETxb62QmTTpoewic5sW3dzeTTiKUawtPR1Qu5IFDD3LGJI%2BS209hJOAcz91SgtZ5IACPv3j1UfWOqrJoE%2FXJ2GE4f6ZhlwUFIj2pOzISJpzAmEABtSSRIkK98yhLyCoXcyLS%2BbNRtByQ5Wqaklx5DVvazPNRDa0CFQXeoJVHVnqif&webInteractiveContentId=184500196010&portalId=443614)

[The Sales Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/the-sales-podcast)

## Related posts

[![How To Pay For Performance With Dush Ramachandran on The Sales Podcast with Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer®. ](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/344-Dush-Ramachandran.jpg?height=200&name=344-Dush-Ramachandran.jpg)](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/dush-ramachandran-affiliate-marketing)

[The Sales Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/the-sales-podcast)

## [How To Pay For Performance With Dush Ramachandran](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/dush-ramachandran-affiliate-marketing)

![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) 

 Oct 13, 2025

Make your affiliates compete to grow your sales \[ LISTEN NOW ON APPLE PODCASTS \]

[Read more](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/dush-ramachandran-affiliate-marketing)

[![Steve Chou's Wife Quit Her Job — AI-powered sales insights from Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Featured_Images/pexels-7743457.jpg?height=200&name=pexels-7743457.jpg)](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/steve-chou-my-wife-quit-her-job)

[The Sales Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/the-sales-podcast)

## [Steve Chou's Wife Quit Her Job](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/steve-chou-my-wife-quit-her-job)

![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) 

 Jul 22, 2015

What you'll learn in this episode of The Sales Podcast... How to scale your business with limited...

[Read more](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/steve-chou-my-wife-quit-her-job)

[![How To Start a Software Business — AI-powered sales insights from Wes Schaeffer, The Sales Whisperer](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Featured_Images/pexels-16323394.jpg?height=200&name=pexels-16323394.jpg)](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/hamid-shojaee-entrepreneur)

[The Sales Podcast](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/topic/the-sales-podcast)

## [How To Start a Software Business (PureChat's Hamid Shojaee)](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/hamid-shojaee-entrepreneur)

![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) 

 Oct 07, 2015

While titles are easy, hear what this successful entrepreneur says is the key to growth...

[Read more](https://thesaleswhisperer.com/blog/hamid-shojaee-entrepreneur)

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