Michael Muhney: The Heart and Soul of a Developer Trapped in the Shiny Suit of a Salesman

Mike’s DNA is all about relationships – he started life as a trainee salesman at IBM where he learned the importance of human intangibles – of the developer and their perspective, on the customer, on the human obstacles and nay-sayers, and the sheer force of will and determination to conquer.

These are all heart-and-soul emotional elements, something not often covered in the developer’s world of 0′s and 1′s. Also, ultimately, no matter what the developer’s solution is, it nonetheless needs to make an emotional connection of some sort with the buyer, especially if one is after sustainability. This was Mike’s ‘lightbulb moment’ in the creation of ACT! but is even more true today.

Mike’s talk from BoS USA 2013 explains how he has applied the lessons he learned in a front line sales role to co-invent ACT!, the world’s first CRM system and how those lessons are even more important in his new business almost 30 years later at VIPorbit Software.


Michael Muhney
Michael Muhney

Michael Muhney

Mike’s DNA is all about relationships – he started life as a trainee salesman at IBM where he learned the importance of human intangibles – of the developer and their perspective, on the customer, on the human obstacles and nay-sayers, and the sheer force of will and determination to conquer.

More from Michael.


Online workshops

New to AI in your business?
AI in Your Business: Where to Start
Set up your AI company OS. Two sessions, cohort of 12.
“I’ve been talking to it loads about positioning, sales framing, North Star metrics. I came up with a succinct statement that I really like.”
Marv Rance, InTouch
Register now Want to do it with just you? One-on-one option ›
Already set up your OS?
Building Your AI Company
Operating System
Not sure what to do next. Four weeks, cohort of 12, with Tim Barker and Mark Littlewood.
“I think about the business differently than I used to. I would never have come to that conclusion without this process.”
Stephen, cohort participant
Register now

Can’t make it? More dates coming up

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