From Martial Arts to Million-Dollar Sales: Lessons You’ll Love
Insights from a viral LinkedIn creator who mastered sales, community, and discipline.
Hello Producers,
I think this one does not need an introduction. If someone told me I’d be fortunate enough to record an episode with Richard, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. Of course, we should aim high, but still… Regardless, I was both very excited and a bit nervous, hoping not to mess up such an opportunity. In the end, we had so much fun. Richard is a true professional who makes even boring topics sound exciting! And no, I’m not just talking about sales. The enthusiasm and passion with which he speaks about anything is infectious—I wish there were more people like that.
Convert Like a Black Belt: The Martial Art of LinkedIn Sales | #89: Richard Moore
Richard Moore is a LinkedIn expert with over 100k followers, known for helping consultants and businesses turn engagement into paying clients. His practical, no-nonsense approach focuses on creating content that builds trust, warms up leads, and converts without resorting to pushy sales tactics. From startups to 9-figure brands, Richard has guided countless professionals to cut through the noise and make LinkedIn work for them.
But there’s more to Richard than LinkedIn strategies. In this episode, we explore his background in Taekwondo, revealing how the discipline and resilience he gained in martial arts influence his business mindset. His upbeat energy, practical advice, and human-first approach to sales might just change how you think about connecting with your audience, and show you how to finally make your LinkedIn efforts pay off.
Lessons:
Learn from the best: Why experts matter
DM without fear: The LinkedIn connection secret
Switch off to level up: The power of hobbies
Find your edge: Stand out in any market
Grow your circle: Build a winning community
Lesson 1: Learn from Those Above You
How did Richard start with sales in the first place? Well, you’ll discover that in the episode. While sales might seem like a boring topic to many (again, no offense to anyone!), approaching it the right way makes all the difference. One key factor was Richard’s attitude: learning from those above him. He listened to their advice, thought deeply about what they said, and remained open to feedback. Not only did this improve his performance, but it also made the entire process much more enjoyable. He wasn’t the stubborn, “I know everything” type. On the contrary, he was open, willing to learn, and driven to improve. And the results? Well, I think you can guess them!
Lesson 2: Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out
At the end of our recording, Richard made a lovely gesture (which I won’t spoil), and it meant a lot. As we all know, LinkedIn is a networking platform that allows you to connect with people from across the world, even those at different levels on the “ladder.” Richard’s advice? Don’t be afraid to reach out. Send a DM—not a generic or sales-pitchy one—but a genuine message, whether it’s a question, supportive words, or a meaningful conversation starter. And if they don’t reply? That can happen, but unless you try, you’ll never know. If you message 10 people and only one replies, that’s still better than nothing, right? Just don’t spam Richard—that’s not the point here. Instead, see the potential and benefit this platform offers. I often forget about it myself.
Lesson 3: Find an Activity to Switch Off
When I discovered this about Richard, I knew we had to explore it. Spoiler alert: did you know he has extensive experience training and teaching Taekwondo? Not only that, but he’s also led academies, coached students from white to black belts, and participated in competitions. Listen to him talk about what it takes—it’s fascinating. Although he doesn’t practice anymore, he remains passionate about physical activities, including long-distance running with ambitious goals ahead! Activities like these help us switch off from work, test our limits in a different way, and bring countless other benefits. Personally, I can’t imagine living or performing well without exercise. If you don’t have something like this in your life, give it a try—you might surprise yourself!
Lesson 4: Find Your Unique Edge
I noticed it right away. When Richard talks about sales, his passion and positivity shine through. Wait, sales? Yes, believe me. The way he approaches it—“elegantly”—really stood out to me. It’s no surprise he’s been so successful and popular. In any competitive market, standing out is essential. What is it that makes you unique? What draws clients, customers, or an audience to you over others? What’s the unusual angle you can take? Think about it—you might uncover a new competitive advantage. And if you’ve already found it? Amazing! Feel free to reply to this email; I’d love to hear about it.
Lesson 5: Grow Your Community
I know it’s easy to think, “Well, it’s simple for someone like Richard with his large following.” But his success didn’t happen overnight. Building a community means providing value, and Richard does this perfectly. First, having access to Richard’s expertise is already a win. Second, his community brings like-minded individuals together. And if that’s not enough, imagine connecting with people from top global brands like Louis Vuitton, Spotify, and more. Yes, that’s what Richard’s community is about. Oh, and it’s offered at an incredibly reasonable price! But Tomas, aren’t these supposed to be lessons, not marketing? Yes, but this is all well-deserved. Richard’s work is proof that providing immense value for a fair price is how you do it right.
But don’t worry, we didn’t talk about sales only, although there’s so much to discuss on that topic. Many may not know that Richard is also an experienced martial artist. As someone interested in martial arts, I was excited to dive into this topic, and Richard has more experience than you’d expect. But if martial arts aren’t your thing, hold on—Richard is also one of the original LinkedIn creators who’s been in the “game” longer than you might think, and the following he’s built speaks for itself. So, who better to listen to for LinkedIn advice, tips, and recommendations? There’s so much packed into this episode, and the time flew by. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Keep producing,
Tommen