Welcome back to Paul Mort Talks Sh*t (Solo).

This episode is about a concept that's been a complete cheat code for me in business:

WHO, not HOW.

Most people sit there asking: "How do I do this?"
I ask: "Who can help me?" "Who's already done it?" "Who can open the door?"

But here's the problem…

People have got this twisted. They think "who not how" means skip the work and DM strangers asking for favours.

This week alone I got messages like:

"Can you hook me up with your contact at Neutonic?"

"Can you message James Smith for me?"

"Can you send me your agent / HarperCollins contact?"

From people I don't know. No relationship. No value given. Just take, take, take.

So in this episode I break down how this REALLY works.

What I cover:

➡️ Why asking before giving kills trust (emotional bank account)

➡️ Why introductions put someone's reputation on the line

➡️ The truth: access isn't free — it's earned (effort, energy, sometimes money)

➡️ Why most of my connections came from rooms, events, masterminds… not DMs

➡️ The key relationship question: "What's in it for them?"

The 6 steps I use to build relationships and grow my network properly:

1. Get in the room

2. Introduce yourself like an adult

3. Be memorable (not loud)

4. Do something useful / give value

5. Follow up

6. Water the relationship (don't only show up when you want something)

And I finish with 3 questions you should ask before you request a favour or intro:

1. Have I added value first?

2. If roles were reversed, would it feel fair?

3. Am I asking for access… or trying to skip the work?

If you want bigger opportunities, better connections, and doors opening faster…

Get in the f*cking room.

Connect with Me
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulmortofficial
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MrPaulMort/
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mort
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@paulmort
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@paulmortofficial

One of the biggest things business owners tell me is:
"I need more leads."

And listen, I'd like more leads too… but most people don't even speak to the leads they've already got. They've got followers, connections, old enquiries, past clients… and they're doing NOTHING with them.

Because what we really want isn't "more leads"…
It's more sales.

In this episode, I break down my Trust Ladder / Sales Ladder, a simple way to stop trying to convince strangers to buy, and start making offers to the people who already know you, like you, and trust you.

What I cover:

➡️ Why content gets attention… but doesn't convert deals on its own

➡️ The 4 tiers: cold contacts → engaged audience → warm leads → past/current clients

➡️ Why you should start at the TOP if you want sales this week

➡️ How to message current + past clients with simple offers (without overthinking it)

➡️ What to do with warm leads who've gone quiet: "shrink the decision"

➡️ How to move engaged followers up the ladder using hand-raisers (comment/DM prompts)

If you want to make more sales, stop obsessing over going viral and start working the ladder properly, top-down.

If this helped, do the like/subscribe/follow thing… and drop a comment with what you want me to cover next.

Connect with Me
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulmortofficial
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MrPaulMort/
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mort
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@paulmort
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@paulmortofficial

This week I'm talking about something most people in my position won't admit:

Business can be HARD. And the start of 2026 has been hard for me too; less traction, fewer sales, fewer sign-ups than I want.

So, instead of pretending everything's perfect, I'm telling you what I think is actually happening in the market right now… and what I believe wins this year.

In this episode, I cover:

➡️ Why 2026 feels harder: more noise, less attention, higher expectations, sceptical buyers.
➡️ Why people are slower to trust but faster to reject (and why "not right now" is everywhere).
➡️ The trap of confusing output with progress (AI makes it easier to produce… not necessarily to grow).
➡️ My key question for every decision this year: "Does this make the business calmer or more complicated?"
➡️ What wins in 2026: clarity over volume, reliability over novelty, calm invites, clear next steps, confidence without hype.
➡️ The trust line: how to remove distance, stop hiding behind brands/tools, and build certainty faster.
➡️ Why great people are gold dust and why energy might be your biggest advantage in a tired, robotic world.

If you're an established business owner and it feels like people are hesitating more, trusting less, and it's getting harder to stand out…

This episode will help you simplify, sharpen, and stop doing sh*t that burns energy without building trust.

Your move:
Where do people hesitate signing up with you? Where are you being vague? What feels messy? And what would remove doubt fastest?

👇 Subscribe + drop a comment with your biggest insight.

Connect with Me
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulmortofficial
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MrPaulMort/
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mort
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@paulmort
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@paulmortofficial