In 2020, I started writing this newsletter because I couldn’t find much to read online about forging partnerships.
In 2021, I published a children’s book about sales because I didn’t see a way for parents in sales to explain their work to their kids.
And today, I’m launching an online shop because I couldn’t find a brand for GTM teams grinding away everyday.
Closed/Won is gear for GTM - branded merch that reflects the craft of deal-making.
Closed/Won would not be possible without the incredible power of AI … more on that below.
Why a shop with gear for those in GTM?
Because you deserve to wear something that reflects what you do, not just where you work.
Because GTM is a grind and life is too short to take too seriously.
Because deal-making is a craft with its own culture and code.
Because it’s time to stop wearing that shirt from SKO 2024. Same with the one from President’s Club 2023.
Because game recognizes game.
Because the number is the number, whether you carry it in Enterprise or SMB, in San Francisco or São Paulo, in Sales, Partnerships, SalesOps, BDRs … and yes, even you, Marketing.
Deal-making is relentless whether you work at a BigTech company or at an early stage startup. And too often, the GTM team does not get the respect they deserve from Product, Engineering or Finance. And even from close family and friends.
The pride that comes with wearing your company’s schwag quickly fades after you change employers or you get layered or laid off.
Yet we are all chasing the same thing: Closed/Won.
Building in public
I had wanted to create merch for this newsletter for a long time. However, I’m not a designer. I don’t write code. And I’ve never managed an e-commerce site.
But lately, I’ve been building with AI. These days, it is probably the single best way to grow professionally. I built a tool to help manage my inbox. A prototype for a business idea. An agent.
AI allowed me to turn the idea of branded merch into reality at a speed that was impossible even a couple years ago. My tech stack was simple: Claude, Gemini, Squarespace and Printful.
That is how Closed/Won came to life.
I have no idea how much I will sell on the Closed/Won shop. That’s not the point. I learned a ton launching the site. That is the thrill of the moment we are living in. Thanks to AI, it has never been quicker to turn an idea into a working prototype … or an ecommerce shop.
Where I need your help
Now I need input from GTM leaders like you.
I hope you will take a moment to browse the Closed/Won shop. If you see something that speaks to you and your experience in GTM or someone you know, please make a purchase. Beyond that, I hope you will reply to this email with answers to a few questions:
What is a funny or snarky phrase that you’ve said or heard at work that ought to be printed on a mug, notebook, t-shirt or poster?
What is a product you wish was available on this site that you don’t (yet) see?
Who can you share the Closed/Won shop with?
Building in public is a communal activity. I’d be so grateful for your feedback - positive and negative. And if you build something, please send it my way.