Team collaborating with laptops and documents in a meeting, showcasing sales outreach

Sales Outreach Is Where Pat Miller Says to Spend Your Extra Hour

Last updated September 7, 2026

Daylight saving time stole an hour from all of us. Pat Miller asked his audience: if you got that hour back, where would you spend it for maximum business impact? His answer was immediate — sales outreach. Not someday, not when things slow down. This week.

We Never Spend Enough Time On Sales Outreach

Every small business owner knows they should be doing more sales outreach. It’s the one activity that directly moves revenue, and yet it’s the one that consistently gets pushed to the back of the list. There’s always something more “urgent” — an email to answer, a client deliverable to finish, a system to fix.

But here’s the truth: you can’t outwork a sales deficit. If the pipeline isn’t flowing, nothing else matters.

Pat’s Specific Play

Pat didn’t just say “sales” in the abstract. He got specific: he would use that extra hour to reach out to 2026 SBOC Conference sponsorship and partnership targets. Not cold outreach into the void, but targeted contacts who would benefit from the exposure across the Businessing show, the Fridays Off newsletter, and a three-day conference event in September.

That’s the model. Know exactly who you need to talk to. Know what you’re offering them. Then use the hour to actually make contact.

The Sales Hour Challenge

Here’s a challenge pulled straight from the show: this week, block off one hour dedicated exclusively to sales outreach. Not admin. Not follow-up emails about existing projects. New business development. Reach out to the people who should be your next clients, partners, or sponsors. Send the LinkedIn message. Make the call. Write the email that’s been sitting in your drafts. One hour of focused sales outreach will do more for your business this week than almost anything else on your to-do list — and it’s the one thing most business owners keep skipping.

Listen to the full episode: Businessing with Pat Miller

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusinessingShow

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/businessing-with-pat-miller/id1870663109

Fridays Off Newsletter: https://fridaysoffnewsletter.com

SBOC: https://smallbusinesscommunity.com

Pat Miller

Pat Miller

Founder of the Small Business Owners Community

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