"Real Forecasts, Real Results with Lindsay Rios" - The Fast Slow Motion Podcast - Ep 042

In episode 042, Fast Slow Motion’s Sam Donaghey and Michael Johnson talk with fractional revenue leader Lindsay Rios about the realities of sales forecasting and growth planning.

Known for her no-nonsense approach, Lindsay shares why top-down forecasting often fails, how to build a more accurate bottoms-up model, and why understanding your business matters more than chasing unicorn numbers. She also offers practical tips on aligning teams, improving CRM usage, and building forecasts you can actually trust.

If you're ready to ditch the guesswork and forecast with confidence, don’t miss this episode.

Want help scaling your business with Salesforce or HubSpot? Get in touch: https://www.fastslowmotion.com/get-in...

#businessgrowth #entrepreneurtips #forecasting #revops #salesforecasting #revenuestrategy #businessplanning #salesstrategy

▶️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Boards Value Business Understanding Over Perfect Forecasts
01:12 – Sales Forecasting and Growth Planning Overview
03:10 – Flaws in Top-Down Forecasting
04:30 – Consequences of Chasing Unrealistic Revenue Targets
05:31 – Why Startups Pivot Too Often
06:50 – Shift from Growth at All Costs to Profitability
07:26 – Forecasting Without Historical Data
08:19 – Building Reliable Early-Stage Data Systems
09:11 – Common Forecasting Calculation Errors
10:03 – Creating Space and Multiple Forecasting Models
11:17 – Forecasting by Pipeline Stage Probabilities
12:50 – Using Rep Forecasts and Market Insights
14:58 – Helping Leaders Get Comfortable with Forecast Uncertainty
17:24 – Real-Time Forecast Snapshots to Adjust Plans
18:40 – Importance of Strong Pipeline Management
21:00 – Using Forecast Reviews to Inform Board Communication
21:31 – Aligning Multiple Teams in the Forecasting Process
24:02 – Challenges with CRM Adoption and Usage
26:24 – Iterative Improvements to CRM for Better Adoption
29:25 – Slowing Down to Build Scalable Foundations
32:33 – Forecasting Challenges Across All Industries
34:24 – How Better Forecasting Supports a Healthy Business and Life Balance
36:03 – Three Actions to Improve Forecasting Today