Smile, Dial & Cold-Plunge: Jake Kreider’s Leap from Telemarketing to B-to-B Manufacturing Sales

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What do a porch-pirate news clip, a viral pallet-sign side hustle and 10 years of used-car bell-to-bell shifts have in common? They all forged Jake Kreider—now Business Development Manager at Viocity Group—into a sales pro who can cold-plunge at 9 p.m., laugh at rejection and still hit the target by morning. In this candid episode Jake joins host Brandon Stanchock to unpack the wild career moves (and mindset shifts) that took him from “smile-and-dial” telemarketer to leading growth for a four-plant metal-fabrication empire. Brandon & Jake

What you’ll learn

• The “Smile & Dial” origin story—and how tone of voice still closes B2B deals in 2025. Brandon & Jake
• Why door-to-door sales was the only job Jake ever hated—and what it taught him about authentic connection. Brandon & Jake
• Side-hustle to burnout: how a pallet-sign business exploded to hundreds of Facebook orders a week—and the moment he and his wife finally shut it down. Brandon & Jake
• Fitness, cold plunges & archery: the nighttime routine that keeps his sales game sharp. Brandon & Jake

Car-Buying Insider Hacks (from a 10-year dealership vet)

1. Check the shop report—demand brake, tire & inspection data before you sign.
2. Bring your own financing (or ask the dealer to match your credit-union rate).
3. Watch for “trade-in + in-house financing” price traps that quietly add $3-4 k to the deal. Brandon & Jake

Leadership & Career Nuggets

• Manager vs. leader—how Jake learned the hard way that showing beats telling when you’re guiding seasoned pros.
• Building a BD team around individual superpowers—and knowing when to admit “I’m not the best person for that.”
• Why collaborating with “competitors” keeps Central-PA manufacturing strong for everyone. Brandon & Jake

Press play if you’re craving no-BS sales tactics, career resilience inspo, or just need a reason to finally try that 4-minute cold plunge.

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