When Peloton launched, it introduced a completely fresh business model. By gathering numerous accomplished fitness trainers and streaming their classes live to eager participants, their audience expanded far beyond the typical studio limitations. This innovative approach inspired sales author Todd Duncan and entrepreneur Alex Kutsishin to adapt this model for the sales coaching field, making it a natural progression.
FUEL Inc., their new platform, was made publicly available last month. It leverages the Peloton concept, offering sales strategy courses delivered through microlearning that can be easily consumed in bite-sized portions. Participants can engage with their performance metrics through a leaderboard, fostering healthy competition among peers.
How FUEL Inc. operates
Upon logging into the FUEL platform, users are presented with a variety of lessons. Although initially aimed at sales professionals, the platform also features content geared towards personal growth and leadership skills.
As of this writing, 12 instructors are featured, each offering unique courses, including a social media-focused video production class by Josh Pitts of Shred Media and a course titled “Mastering the Buyer Consultation” by Denise Donoghue from The Mortgage Nerd Academy. Each lesson is approximately three minutes in length and includes a knowledge assessment afterward.
“Our technology pauses the video [for knowledge checks] because we know that just learning isn’t sufficient,” Duncan explains. “Learning is part of it… but knowledge is empowering.”
Encouraging sales through personal competition
Duncan and Kutsishin identified an opportunity to collaborate since they shared a goal of “making learning accessible to all.”
“Many individuals can’t learn due to a lack of access, a one-size-fits-all approach, or the requirement to attend in-person seminars. Furthermore, it’s unjust for newcomers in a business who require a different learning experience compared to seasoned veterans in the field.”
According to Duncan and Kutsishin, conventional learning methods are not tailored to the specific needs of learners or the modern business environment. Attending an annual conference is often insufficient, especially as technology now allows for efficient, flexible learning.
“We believe there’s a flaw in traditional learning,” Duncan states. “Micro-modality will empower companies to help their employees become the best versions of themselves.”
The chance to exceed personal bests—much like Peloton enthusiasts—adds a motivating element that could resonate with many learners.
“You can track everything that matters while mastering a new skill,” Duncan says. “Continuously, you’re competing against your previous self. The best salespeople will seek to equip themselves and always strive to surpass their own limits.”
The power of positive accountability
The sports analogy is frequently utilized in business settings, and Kutsishin emphasizes its relevance.
“The sports framework has refined accountability and independence,” he remarks. “[In] professional sports, the model operates like this… for instance, if you play for a professional sports team, you are responsible to your teammates.”
There’s no room on a professional team for those who don’t collaborate with others. Athletes must attend practices while comprehending the entirety of the game—the plays, coaches, and fellow players.
“You can’t simply say, ‘I’m exceptionally talented. I’ll attend every game but skip the practices’… that’s not applicable in professional sports at all. Accountability means playing for the team,” Kutsishin explains.
If a business decides to implement FUEL Inc. for its sales staff, it can monitor progress regarding lesson completion and the acquisition of skills and knowledge intended for development.
“We’ve effectively redefined a term that isn’t pleasant to hear when performance is lacking: ‘accountability,’” Duncan mentions. “From the outset, we aimed to create a sense of joyful accountability among leaders and their team members.”
Initial feedback on FUEL Inc.
Since its launch in July, Duncan and Kutsishin have been excited about the positive reception of FUEL Inc. They originally conceptualized it as a dedicated sales application, but have been pleased to hear from customers who believe the skills learned on the app could benefit their entire teams. Already, fifteen companies have come on board, and individuals are also discovering the platform.
“We intended it for enterprises, yet people are finding it and signing up,” Kutsishin states. “It’s akin to the Netflix or Peloton for personal and professional growth.”
