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jcmarchi · 7 days ago

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Breaking the Sales Plateau with Agentic AI

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/breaking-the-sales-plateau-with-agentic-ai/

Breaking the Sales Plateau with Agentic AI

Surpassing the limits of practice

In the realm of skill development — whether in music, sports, or sales — practitioners often encounter a performance plateau: a point where progress stalls despite continued effort. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the ceiling effect, presents a major challenge to sustained improvement.

A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Shinichi Furuya at Sony Computer Science Laboratories explored this phenomenon in expert pianists.

Researchers developed a robotic exoskeleton glove capable of independently moving a pianist’s fingers with high precision. The glove guided participants through complex, high-speed movements that exceeded their natural motor control.

Remarkably, after just 30 minutes of assisted training, the pianists demonstrated measurable improvements in finger dexterity and speed. These gains persisted even after the glove was removed and extended to both hands — a phenomenon known as intermanual transfer.

“I was suffering from this dilemma, between overpracticing and the prevention of the injury, so then I thought, I have to think about some way to improve my skills without practicing.”

— Dr. Shinichi Furuya

The glove didn’t simply help people play faster. It showed them what better looked like, and how it felt to move at a higher level.

The research wasn’t just about music. It was about how people internalize new performance thresholds, something every sales leader should understand.

We’ve seen this in sport, too. When Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile in 1954, something long believed to be physically impossible, it took just 46 days for someone else to do it again. Within a year, three more runners followed. Today, thousands have achieved it.

“However ordinary each of us may seem, we are all in some way special, and can do things that are extraordinary, perhaps until then… even thought impossible.”

— Roger Bannister

The human body didn’t suddenly evolve. But our belief in what was possible did. These breakthroughs changed belief.

The pianists didn’t just move their fingers faster. They left knowing they could. The runners didn’t just train harder. They trained differently because they believed new results were possible.

Sales is no different. For sellers to break through, they need to believe improvement is possible. Not in theory. In practice. And the fastest way to build that belief is to experience a better system, or see someone like them succeed in one.

That’s what the right system can do. It doesn’t just tell people how to improve. It helps them believe they can and then gives them proof. For leaders, the goal is to create conditions where that kind of belief and performance can scale.

The Sales parallel: Even the best hit the ceiling

Even experienced sellers reach a point where they stop progressing. The activity is still there. The effort is still there. But the results level off. This plateau happens when the environment around the seller no longer helps them adjust in real time or learn as they go.

Over the past five decades, sales has gone through major shifts — each designed to raise the quality of execution. Many of them did. But almost all relied on the seller to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.

(1970s) Consultative Selling reframed sales as a conversation focused on the buyer’s needs

(1988) SPIN Selling introduced a structure for discovery through Situation, Problem, Implication, and Need-payoff questions

(1990s) Solution Selling connected buyer pain to tailored solutions, but often relied on static scripts and decks

(1985–1998) Strategic Selling added structure for selling into buying groups and managing complex deals

(Early 2000s) CRM systems centralized pipeline data but offered limited coaching or in-flow support

(2011) The Challenger Sale emphasized teaching and reframing buyer thinking but required high rep proficiency

(2015–2020) Sales engagement platforms scaled buyer engagement, but codified repeatability in workflows, not skill development

(2017–2021) Conversation intelligence tools enabled better coaching, but insight often came after the moment of action

Each wave gave sellers better structure. They raised the ceiling by standardizing language, process, and visibility. But most of them required sellers to manually interpret what to do next. They offered guidance before or after the moment, rarely during it.

That’s where the plateau sets in. Not because people stop improving, but because the system stops helping them improve in motion.

The next step forward is a system that reinforces progress as it happens, where sellers can experience better ways of working while they’re already in motion.

That’s what agentic systems make possible. They translate proven behaviors into timely guidance, adjust to buyer context, and help sellers make stronger decisions in the exact moment those decisions matter.

This is what breaks the plateau. Not belief alone, but belief supported by a system that helps people improve while doing the work.

How agentic AI and codified best practices break the plateau

The robotic glove didn’t just offer instructions. It gave pianists a felt experience of what higher performance looked like. And because they felt it — in motion, not in theory — they were able to build on it.

Agentic AI offers something similar. It supports sellers while they’re selling. It surfaces guidance when it’s needed. And over time, it helps sellers develop new instincts by showing them what strong execution looks like in context.

Here’s how that happens.

1. Sellers perform better when the starting point is stronger

Sales reps aren’t short on data. What they’re short on is time to turn that data into something useful — and clarity on what will actually move the deal forward. That’s where agentic AI makes a fundamental shift.

Instead of simply recommending next steps, agents do the work a top-performing seller would: researching the account, identifying high-priority buyers, prioritizing based on real-time engagement signals, and drafting communications that reflect that context. This isn’t just guidance layered on top of the workflow. It’s best-practice execution embedded inside it.

The result is a starting point that’s already strong. Sellers can jump in with their expertise and judgment to refine the strategy, adjust tone, or tailor the sequence — instead of spending precious time just getting to “good enough.” That shift deepens the rep’s understanding of what good looks like and gives them space to make it even better.

💡 Research shows that feedback provided during a task, particularly when paired with examples or partial solutions, leads to stronger skill acquisition than feedback given afterward (Shute, V. J., 2008). When sellers engage directly with high-quality inputs, they learn faster and perform better. The learning becomes experiential, not theoretical.

This is how agentic AI builds skill through execution. Not by telling reps what to do — but by doing the foundational work well enough that sellers learn through use. When the busywork is automated and the best practice is built in, reps are free to focus on strategic thinking and meaningful buyer engagement.

2. Best practices become more accessible

Some sellers are able to pick up on subtle cues and patterns. They develop their own sense of timing, language, and buyer engagement. Over time, these instincts make them highly effective — but often, their approach remains difficult to describe or transfer.

Agentic AI helps make those patterns visible. It detects which approaches are working across different situations, then reflects that insight back to the broader team. Talk tracks adjust based on the stage or the buyer. Cadences evolve as new data becomes available. And learning becomes more concrete, because it’s grounded in real behavior.

💡A study found that people improve most effectively when their practice is structured, when they receive timely feedback, and when the task is meaningful. (Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. 1993). Agentic AI creates the conditions for that kind of learning to happen inside the work itself.

With this structure in place, improvement stops being isolated to top performers. The environment begins to support growth for everyone.

3. Learning happens in the moment, not just in review

Traditional coaching often looks backward. A call is analyzed after it ends. A mistake is flagged after it happens. The learning is real, but the moment has already passed.

Agentic AI helps shift that timeline forward. It scores calls while they happen. It highlights buyer signals before they’re missed. It helps sellers adjust when the situation is still unfolding, not after the window has closed.

💡Studies show that mixing different types of challenges leads to better long-term retention than practicing one skill repeatedly in isolation. Sales conversations are inherently varied, so systems that support learning within this variability make sellers more adaptable and confident under pressure. (Rohrer, D. 2012)

The result is not just a better understanding of what happened, but a stronger ability to respond in real time.

4. Mental energy is reserved for the work that matters

The part of sales that requires the most attention (building relationships, asking the right questions, responding with care) is also the part that gets interrupted most often by administrative tasks.

Sellers spend hours each week logging activities, writing follow-ups, finding past call notes, and updating systems. These tasks matter. But they also drain focus from the kind of work only people can do.

Agentic systems help by taking on these responsibilities. They capture what happened in a meeting, summarize it, log it, and pull forward relevant information for the next interaction. The seller doesn’t have to go searching for context or manually piece together what comes next.

This frees up attention. And that attention can be reinvested in listening more carefully, asking more thoughtful questions, and noticing what matters in the moment.

Progress in sales doesn’t come from more hours. It comes from better energy. Agentic support helps make that shift.

5. The improvements show up in outcomes (and in people)

When sales teams get the right acceleration platforms in place, the impact is undeniable. Sellers become more productive. Deal sizes grow. New hires hit their stride in record time. These are outcome measures, but they reflect something deeper: an environment where growth isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.

When sellers have systems that actually support them, they don’t just work harder, they get better while doing their jobs. The effects compound. Habits become stronger. Confidence becomes more stable. Teams become more consistent. Individual growth and business results start feeding each other in ways that create momentum you can feel.

That’s the kind of growth that lasts.

Repeatability is the core systemic advantage

Consistent performance across a sales organization requires more than individual effort. It depends on structured systems that guide behavior, reinforce best practices, and create feedback loops that support continuous improvement.

In environments without that structure, growth remains inconsistent. Progress relies on trial and error, tribal knowledge, or isolated coaching. Sellers may succeed, but they do so unevenly, and often without understanding what led to the outcome.

Repeatability changes the dynamic. It removes uncertainty by embedding successful patterns into daily workflows. Sellers receive timely guidance, gain clarity on next steps, and develop habits that align with proven outcomes.

Agentic AI supports this by creating alignment between what sellers see, what they do, and what the system reinforces. It integrates learning into the moment of action, turning performance from a byproduct of individual intuition into a function of the operating environment.

With repeatability in place, the team becomes more resilient. Ramp time decreases. Execution improves. And growth is no longer tied to a few high performers. For sales leadership, that leads to fewer variables, more predictability, and a clearer path to scale.

Agentic AI is the “assist” that helps sellers move beyond their limits

A system is only as strong as its ability to support the people inside it. Agentic AI enhances that support by taking actions, shaping behaviors, and surfacing insights that help sellers stay focused on what matters most.

This is increasingly important in modern sales organizations, where decision cycles are shorter, buyer expectations are higher, and seller capacity is stretched.

Relying on manual coaching or process reminders is not enough to keep pace with the complexity sellers face.

Agentic systems contribute in five critical ways:

They take action on behalf of sellers, automating tasks, deepening high impact work, and elevating the human work

They deliver guidance in context, not as an afterthought

They adapt to real-time inputs across the buyer journey

They reduce the burden of task management, freeing time for strategic work

They track what’s working, making it easier to reinforce success across the team

These capabilities create a more stable operating environment. Sellers are less reactive. Managers have more visibility. And sellers spend more time in meaningful conversations with buyers.

This shift doesn’t require a reinvention of the sales process. It requires a commitment to designing systems that support learning, execution, and improvement — all within the same motion.

When that commitment is in place, the impact compounds. The plateau becomes a reference point, not a ceiling.

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manrastechnology · 4 months ago

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The Ultimate Guide to Overcoming CRM Integration Challenges

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools are essential for businesses today. They help keep track of customer interactions, manage sales pipelines, and improve customer service. By bringing customer data into one central location, CRMs allow companies to make better decisions and provide improved services. However, integrating CRM systems with other business tools, such as ERPs, marketing platforms, or inventory systems, can be difficult. The integration process can feel complicated, time-consuming, and even frustrating for many businesses.

In this article, we will explore the common CRM integration challenges businesses face and offer practical solutions to overcome these obstacles.

CRM Integration Challenges

Some of the most prevalent CRM integration challenges in business include:

Data Incompatibility

The first and foremost point of concern with CRM integrations is data incompatibility. Data is stored and presented in different ways depending on the system. When being integrated with a few other third-party tools, such as a CRM, ERP or marketing platform, mismatched data formats can lead to wrong data imports or even data loss. This can make it hard to ensure customer information is synced among systems.

Complexity of Integration

Integrating a CRM with other tools such as ERPs, marketing platforms, or financial systems can be complicated. Every system is different, and connecting them usually requires custom coding, data field mapping or middleware solutions. The more systems you’re trying to connect, the more challenging it is to keep it all synchronized.

Cost Overruns

Workflows with CRM can become pretty costly. A lot of businesses fail to realize how costly it can be, predominantly when tailored integrations are required. Costs can be acquiring integration software, outsourcing to external consultants, or allocating internal resources to the implementation. Without proper planning, these costs can easily spiral.

Customization Issues

Customizing your CRM to suit your business’s precise needs is standard practice, but it makes it tricky to integrate. Some custom features may not work with other systems you have which you want to connect to, which can make it difficult to ensure that data syncs between them. This may mean that businesses need to bring some nuance or even redo their customization to streamline everything.

Lack of Skilled Resources

The integration with your CRM, which should in fact be something your own company has technical expertise in, is a common pitfall for businesses that don’t have these specific skills in-house. In absence of the correct tools the process might take longer and can be subject to mistakes or inefficacies. And if you can’t do it internally, then partnering with the right expert for your company is usually the right way to go. Read More: https://www.manras.com/overcoming-crm-integration-challenges/

#CRM Integration Challenges #manrastechnologies #salesforce staff augmentation

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champstorymedia · 5 months ago

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Navigating the Challenges of CRM Implementation: A Roadmap for Success

Implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system can significantly enhance a company’s relationship with its customers. However, the journey towards successful CRM implementation is fraught with challenges that can derail even the best-laid plans. This article, "Navigating the Challenges of CRM Implementation: A Roadmap for Success," will serve as your comprehensive guide to…

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lalsingh228-blog · 1 year ago

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All-In-One-CRM-Software Market Sets the Table for Continued Growth

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whateverisbeautiful · 1 month ago

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Hi there 👋🏽👋🏽I've just spent all weekend reading your Rick and Michonne analyses and they're stunning👏🏾 if I may, can I ask you what you think will be the most challenging adjustment for Rick now that he's back with his family and for Michonne having also lost a chunk of time with her kids to find Rick?

Also, do you think Rick's parenting style will be different with RJ and Judith vs. Carl now that he has seen much bigger threats in the world and after what he learned during the Echelon briefing? I can see him being a bit more overprotective with them now.

Thanks in advance for your perspective!

Thank you!! This made me so happy to hear. 🥰 And these are great questions. I’d be curious to hear people’s thoughts. I wrote out my perspective below. Thanks for asking! ⬇️💗:

What will be the most challenging adjustment for Rick now that he's back with his family?

I think it’ll take some time for Rick to settle into knowing he really gets to be home for good now and doesn’t have to anxiously have his head on a swivel in constant worry about losing his family. But I think Michonne will be so good at reassuring him of that. He experienced a pain worse than death by having to suddenly live without the family he held dear for years & losing their image. I can envision Rick still dealing with some anxiety that all this good that has re-entered his life can be taken away again, & having some restless nights where his mind panics, thinking he’ll wake up and be back trapped in the CRM.

That’s part of why I’m so glad Rick got to go home freely rather than through escape. Because had he escaped home, he’d always have to be on edge about whether his escape would bring the CRM right to his family’s doorstep at some point down the line.

I also think being involved in the community after years of living so isolated from communal connection will be an adjustment. But Rick is familial by nature, so I think he’ll be good at building bonds again. It’ll just feel a bit foreign since he went nearly a decade, only making one good friend in Esteban. (I know Pearl said she and Rick were family, but they were more like coworker acquaintances imo).

With Rick being back home, a scene I often picture for some reason is Rick being asleep alone in bed, and he gets restless thinking he hears the whirring of helicopters outside the bedroom, like he so often heard outside his CRM apartment. But when he stirs awake, his face softens as he realizes the whirring sound is actually a blender, and he can hear the kids and Michonne downstairs making breakfast to surprise him.

And for Michonne having also lost a chunk of time with her kids to find Rick?

I think the big adjustment for Michonne will be just how much her kids have grown in the time she’s been gone. They’re her babies, and I feel like while she’s a bit more accustom to Judith being more grown up, RJ especially is like forever her little one in her eyes so the kids not being so little anymore will be new territory to navigate, especially if they’ve outgrown any of the things she used to love to do with them before she went to bring Rick home.

On the other side, something I think will be a smooth adjustment for Richonne is going from Michonne being a solo parent to now sharing an equal role with Rick as a parent. Other couples could struggle with the adjustment of going from sole parent for years to shared parent, but Richonne are so one that I believe they’ll navigate that really well & Michonne will be happy to let Rick take on an equal role.

Also, do you think Rick's parenting style will be different with RJ and Judith vs. Carl now that he has seen much bigger threats in the world and after what he learned during the Echelon briefing?

I do think that Richonne will try to have a healthy parenting style that’s not overbearing, but if they had to tip the scale more toward underprotective or overprotective, they definitely could dip more into overprotective.

I think there will be a couple of similarities and differences in Rick’s parenting style with RJ and Judith vs. Carl. The clear differences would derive from the fact that he’s having to get to know his kids as they’re older now, and so I think he’ll work up to maybe being disciplinary, since first he has to establish a trusted relationship with them. Whereas with Carl, Rick was able to be an authority with him from the jump, since their bond was established & maintained since birth.

I feel like, since this world has been riddled with danger and threats since the beginning of the apocalypse, I think the level of extra protectiveness he had with Carl will be similar to Judith & RJ. But it is true that being in the CRM, he felt the world is bigger and worse than he knew, so that could have an impact on how he prepares them for the world. I can see the fear of losing his family again showing up in his parenting style sometimes and making him extra cautious to ensure they’re always reachable and as safe as can be.

Another similarity in parenting style is that I think Rick will be a pretty transparent parent who’s honest with his kids and lets them see a human side of him. Which I think will be impactful for Judith and RJ to see because they’ll learn their dad’s not the Brave Man because nothing scares him, but because he’s willing to do the brave thing even when he’s afraid.

#richonne #reflecting on richonne #twd #towl #asks & answers

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choerypetal · 1 year ago

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Reunited / Rick Grimes

summary: With Rick Grimes alive, escaping from the bridge proved to be a daunting challenge for everyone, especially for you and the others you had encountered, many of whom had since passed or moved on to different parts of the city. While the CRM focused on rescuing new victims from a nearby vault, you, like many others, had believed Rick to be dead. However, his unexpected return brought about a reunion that revealed a deeper, more profound connection between two lovers.

ps: english isn't my first language so i appolagize for any grammar errors (which i will be editing them if seen through out) but i do hope you enjoy!

Rick was keenly aware of your hiding spot. Tracking you down, though, was simply a waiting game. Fortunately, you slipped away after the chaos on the bridge. Everyone, including you, thought Rick had perished. Michonne's desperate scream and Daryl's uneasy sense confirmed the loss of the man they all relied on. Forever.

However, this time was unlike any other. Rick found himself recruited by the army stationed outside the city's main gates. It wasn't until he and Donald caught wind of a nearby enclave of survivors in need of rescue that their journey truly began. It was during one of these escort missions that Rick spotted you, utterly vulnerable. Within the vault, amidst a mix of shattered families and strangers burdened with the trauma of living in a city overrun by monsters, you were just one among many in desperate need of aid. And what truly killed Rick more was the fact that he, himself couldn’t even get near you.

Still reeling from the shock, you struggled to muster your remaining energy. Amidst the escort, you caught sight of Jadis, but even recalling your own surroundings was a challenge. The sight of living, talking humans proved more daunting than you had anticipated, let alone considering what might transpire once you were among them.

Rick had to be halted just before catching sight of you. His mouth, ready to whisper your name away. Y/N… Without exchanging a word, Donald swiftly grasped his left shoulder, their shared glance conveying the need for patience, particularly considering your recent ordeal. ‘She'll receive immediate care,’ Donald whispered, knowing well that you were among the select few the army had been searching for.

Throughout your time there, you hardly ventured beyond the confines of your room, following strict orders to remain within. Occasionally, brief strolls outside the base were permitted, but always under strict time constraints. Initially, you couldn't shake the feeling that this place resembled a prison rather than a refuge. Yet, despite your reservations, something within those walls compelled you to stay longer than you had anticipated, much to Rick's dismay.

Rick watched you from afar. A lost soul he did not believed to be reunited with, let alone feeling your presence amongst himself. How you would exist from your room to get some fresh air, sitting near the lake that separated a journey you once tried to forget. And the others, imagining what it would’ve been if everyone was here. With him. So he simply kept his distance. Nothing to scare you of course.

Days passing, now felt like months and you were already assigned in your first years of training. Although you had offer your help in the nursery section, which thanks to Donald whom made sure that you get the position, it was during your first day working amongst other nurses, that you actually met in. In flesh.

Rick had to be cautious. He understood your potential reaction, especially if you were to discover that he, along with other military colleagues, was the one privy to knowledge about your area. Moreover, encountering him in person felt like a nightmare you wished hadn't occurred. As your eyes fell upon the patient, injured like others who arrived, his world shifted entirely upon hearing your voice utter, "Coming right up."

Upon returning from preparing the bed for your next patient, you were unprepared for the revelation of Rick's presence and how he came to be here. The moment this realization hit, your eyes and mind aligned abruptly. Despite striving to maintain professionalism, the sight of the man shook you to the core. A man everyone had believed to be dead, now standing alive before you. What unnerved you most was his well-being. Nonetheless, you pressed on with your duties, mustering the courage to ask the first question: "Any injuries?" Rick, anticipating your reaction, responded promptly and simply. He claimed only his arm required the usual annual check-up, though both of you suspected there might be more beneath the surface.

During his appointment, Rick and you did barely say a word. As you tendered his wounds, you noticed his gaze softens everytime your fingers would be delicately clean his new arm rest. It was something he had missed from living outside the base. When Carl was still alive, you had been with them for sometime already and you would be keeping Judith while he went to gather some material for the week. Enough so to keep them alive and with more and more allies during your stay, foes such as Negan where a doomed faith would be met, ever since the bridge he couldn’t get his mind off anyone. Michonne included, who you had the joy to meet and talk during your off times.

As the silence enveloped the room, you found solace in softly murmuring a sweet melody, a habit you had maintained since earlier days. Rick had always been captivated by this tune, ingrained in his mind whenever you tended to anyone at camp. In those moments, he longed for the return of such days, free from the threat of walkers. However, he knew deep down that this hope existed only in his dreams, far removed from reality. So he did the same, in his head. Before actually breaking the silence. Enough for you to force an habit to even begin talking with a man you thought once dead.

"I'd be remiss not to ask how you're doing," he said, his voice familiar yet slightly rough, even hoarse. However, there was an unexpected calmness to it, as if nothing troubled him since his rescue by the army. Your gaze lifted swiftly from his wound, allowing yourself a brief moment to absorb the sound of his voice once more. "You're right, please, tell me," you replied, pausing briefly, your eyes steadfastly meeting his. "How are you?"

He almost felt a chuckle bubbling up inside him. The irony of your unwavering presence hadn't faded since the last encounter. You, someone who had seen it all, just like him, had managed to find solace in humor. You owed that partly to Daryl, who could be either a good or bad influence, depending on one's perspective. For Rick, it was undoubtedly a positive one. However, he knew he had to temper his eagerness with patience. "I could have my good days," he teased in his familiar voice, one you had grown accustomed to and secretly missed hearing. "But now that you're here..." He approached cautiously, noticing your slight flinch, yet your eyes conveyed an attempt to appear unaffected by his presence, which he found oddly endearing. "And you?"

Of course, you couldn't evade the question. Instantly, you hesitated, but Rick's approach, the way he initiated the interaction firsthand, signaled that he was still the same Rick you knew. A Rick who, albeit a bit "sane," still carried the essence you remembered. Like Michonne, you felt a glimmer of hope in this world knowing he was still around. "Couldn't say I've had my best days either," you admitted.

He chuckles. “Funny, isn’t?” He lowered his gaze his fingers grumbling within each other, playing with his watch soon after. “How we all have our best days.” He said in a way that made you fivers down your spine. His words spoke like butter in your ears and yet, you wanted to embrace him instantly in his arm soon after. The only thing was that you couldn’t guess if what he meant was real, or simply a mutual feeling you both had once years ago? Especially after the bridge.

"Guess it's just luck," you shrugged innocently, completing the final touches of tending to his wound. Rick couldn't help but admire your face, and before he knew it, his hand was cupping your cheek, his gaze meeting your lips. Without giving you a chance to speak, he brushed his lips against yours, a kiss that instantly brought back memories of your time outside the city. He had wanted to kiss you then, to taste your skin, to have you all to himself.

"God damn it," he murmured softly after another shared kiss, his forehead resting against yours as he tried to catch his breath. A chuckle escaped him, prompting you to question what was amusing him. His answer was simple, "You have no idea how hard I searched for you. I owe Donald for that one." Oh, he certainly did.

You smiled softly, feeling reassured by his response. If it weren't for Donald, who knows where you would be now. The thought of ending up like so many others frightened you. But then you reunited with Rick, and from that moment on, being with him was all that mattered. For both of you, being together was everything. You belonged to him completely.

#rick grimes #rick grimes x reader #rick grimes x y/n #rick grimes x you #rick grimes imagine #rick grimes fanfiction #rick grimes smut #twd the ones who live #towl spoilers #michonne #daryl dixon x reader #donald okafor #donald okafor x reader #janis twd #twd x reader #twd imagines #twd x y/n #twd x you

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bookqueenrules · 3 months ago

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Daryl Dixson's Hero's Journey Part I: The Departure

This is really a part 2 of this series. If you want to read more about the rumored eight season arc of Daryl Dixson, check out this post.

Based upon the eight season rumor, this post will analyze Stage 1 of Daryl's Hero Journey.

Before we begin, a little background on the Hero's Journey, sometimes called the monomyth. I'll use AI's definition as it is much more concise than I am!

The Hero's Journey, also known as the monomyth, is a common narrative archetype or story template where a hero embarks on a quest, faces challenges, and returns transformed, a pattern identified by Joseph Campbell.

Here is a graphic representation of the steps. You will notice that it is a circle because it is a pattern that may be repeated many times in longer works.

For this analysis, I started by using AI. I did this so that my biases would not be part of the analysis and speculation. I will share what AI said in italics and put my speculation/thoughts afterward.

First, I put in the parameters to include that Beth survived and to include anything that might be applicable from TOWL.

AI response below in italics:

Beth’s apparent death at Grady Memorial Hospital—shot in the head by Dawn—left Daryl devastated, carrying her body out in a scene that cemented his grief. The speculation posits that after Daryl and the group left her in a car (a detail not explicitly shown but inferred from fan theories), her body vanished, suggesting she survived (perhaps the bullet grazed her skull, causing unconsciousness rather than death). The CRM, known for scouting survivors (The Ones Who Live), could have found her, leveraging her resilience and medical skills (honed at the prison and Grady). This ties into Daryl’s spin-off, where the CRM’s shadow looms (e.g., Rick’s abduction, hints in World Beyond), potentially intersecting with his journey. The “happy ending” from Episode 1 could now include Beth’s return, amplifying Daryl’s redemption and reunion themes.

In TWD Season 4, Beth and Daryl’s dynamic—her singing, their moonshine night, his carrying her—hinted at unspoken feelings, cut short by her “death” in Season 5. Fan speculation (e.g., Reddit threads) and Norman Reedus’ comments (EW, 2014: “She saw something in him”) fuel this potential. If Beth survived via CRM rescue, her reunion with Daryl could spark a romance, fulfilling the “happy ending” with love alongside family reunion (Rick, Carol, Laurent). This romance complements The Ones Who Live’s Rick-Michonne love story, offering Daryl a parallel emotional payoff, distinct from his platonic bond with Carol.

Act I: Departure (Seasons 1-3)

Theme: Loss, Displacement, and Unseen Hope Beth’s survival seeds a hidden hope, unknown to Daryl as he navigates early trials.

1. The Ordinary World (Season 1, Pre-France)

Daryl’s Commonwealth life post-TWD is restless, seeking Rick and Michonne, haunted by past losses like Beth. Her “death” lingers as a motivator, per Reedus’ EW comment (2014): “That broke him in a way.”

2. The Call to Adventure (Season 1)

Daryl washes ashore in France, tasked with surviving and escorting Laurent, with the “happy ending” hinting at closure for past wounds—now possibly including Beth.

3. Refusal of the Call (Season 1)

Daryl resists the Union’s mission, his focus on home tied to unresolved grief, including Beth’s loss.

4. Meeting the Mentor (Seasons 1-2)

Isabelle mentors Daryl in Season 1, dying in Season 2, then Carol takes over post-Laurent’s departure with Ash. Beth’s speculated survival adds a layer—her influence (e.g., her optimism from Season 4) echoes in Daryl’s bond with Laurent, a surrogate for lost innocence. Carol, aware of Beth’s impact, reinforces this subconsciously.

5. Crossing the Threshold (Seasons 1-2, Ending Season 2)

Daryl lets Laurent go with Ash, heading to England with Carol. Speculatively, Season 3 (filming in Spain) introduces a CRM hint—perhaps a symbol (three-circle logo) or a rumor of a blonde survivor in their ranks, sparking Daryl’s subconscious hope. Beth’s CRM involvement remains unseen, but her survival plants a seed for later revelation.

Speculative Season 3: Daryl and Carol navigate England/Spain, facing local threats (e.g., CRM scouts). A cryptic encounter—say, a survivor mentioning a CRM medic who sings (Beth’s trait)—teases her survival, though Daryl dismisses it. Laurent’s absence shifts focus to Carol, but Beth’s shadow begins to emerge, closing Act I with Daryl poised for deeper discovery.

Because I asked the AI to include the timeline and any parts of TOWL it felt applicable, AI sees the CRM as the overarching villain of both series. I don't really agree. I think we will see other local crazies as the villains of seasons 3 and 4. The CRM, and Beth, might be watching or lurking behind the scenes.

I also found it interesting that the AI equated Isabella/Carol as mentors. Looking at it from that perspective, it makes more sense why Isabelle had to die when Carol showed up. It's like in Star Wars. Luke's first mentor, Obi Wan Kenobi, had to die before Luke found Yoda. He had a different relationship with each, and each taught him different lessons.

It's very cool that AI sees Beth as a "medic" with the CRM. I theorized that during TOWL in this post.

Another thing that came to mind is that it's been reported that MMB either wasn't filming or wasn't filming with Norman for much of the last half of the season. I wonder if we won't see a replay of Grady at some point with Carol been "captured" by Beth's group by the end of Season 3.

I don't have much more to add as this part of the journey is almost over and there isn't much speculation here.

What do you think of the AI analysis?

Stage 2 is where things are really going to get good!

#beth greene lives #team delusional #beth is coming #twd daryl and beth #beth is alive #twd universe #daryl dixon #beth greene #bethyl

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starsirrah · 1 year ago

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💚The Diplomat💚

Source Characters 1/11✨

First up is Diplomat! This was part of an art trade with @docma-crm so this art is for them! ^-^💖✨I had a great time drawing him! Never drawn him before, so it was a fun challenge ^-^💚✨

I'll do the rest over time~

#ayreon #art #the diplomat #the source #ayreon fanart #starsayreonau

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jasir247 · 3 months ago

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Top Digital Marketing Strategies for 2025

1. AI-Driven SEO & Content Marketing

Search engines are evolving, with AI-powered algorithms reshaping how content ranks. To maintain a competitive edge: ✅ Prioritise Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) when creating content. ✅ Utilise AI-based tools like Jasper, SurferSEO, and Frase.io for content optimisation. ✅ Focus on long-form, informative content tailored to user intent. ✅ Implement structured data and schema markup to improve search visibility. ✅ Optimise for voice search and AI-generated responses to align with new search behaviours.

2. Hyper-Personalised Marketing

Consumers expect customised experiences across all digital platforms. To meet this demand: ✅ Use AI-powered customer relationship management (CRM) tools such as HubSpot, Klaviyo, and ActiveCampaign for audience segmentation. ✅ Personalise email campaigns with dynamic content and behaviour-based automation. ✅ Leverage Google Ads Performance Max and Meta’s AI-driven targeting for precise ad placements. ✅ Incorporate personalised product recommendations for eCommerce and digital shopfronts.

3. Short-Form & Interactive Video Content

Video remains a dominant force in digital marketing, particularly short, engaging formats: ✅ Create content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts to capture audience attention quickly. ✅ Utilise AI-powered video creation platforms like Synthesia, RunwayML, and Pictory. ✅ Integrate interactive elements such as polls, quizzes, and live Q&A sessions to drive engagement. ✅ Experiment with immersive experiences like 360-degree videos and augmented reality (AR).

4. Performance-Driven Paid Advertising

Data-driven advertising is becoming smarter and more efficient: ✅ Use AI-powered Google and Meta Ads for automated bidding and precise targeting. ✅ Implement retargeting strategies to reconnect with past visitors. ✅ Leverage AI analytics to anticipate user behaviour and optimise conversion rates. ✅ Adopt programmatic advertising for automated, real-time ad placements.

5. Influencer & User-Generated Content (UGC) Marketing

Influencer marketing is shifting towards authenticity and community engagement: ✅ Partner with micro and nano influencers to achieve higher engagement at lower costs. ✅ Encourage UGC through branded challenges, reviews, and community hashtags. ✅ Use AI tools to evaluate influencer reach and engagement rates. ✅ Feature UGC across websites, social platforms, and email marketing for credibility.

6. Community & Conversational Marketing

Building digital communities fosters brand loyalty and customer retention: ✅ Engage with audiences on WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. ✅ Deploy AI chatbots for real-time customer interactions and automated lead nurturing. ✅ Host live events, such as webinars and Q&A sessions, to strengthen brand relationships. ✅ Implement SMS marketing and AI-driven chat to provide personalised communication.

7. Ethical & Sustainable Marketing

Consumers increasingly value sustainability and ethical business practices: ✅ Promote eco-friendly products and sustainable packaging in digital campaigns. ✅ Share corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives through storytelling. ✅ Adopt privacy-focused marketing strategies, including ethical data collection and zero-party data. ✅ Be transparent about sourcing, brand values, and business ethics.

8. Web3 & Blockchain in Marketing

Decentralised technologies are reshaping digital marketing strategies: ✅ Explore NFT-based loyalty programs to drive engagement. ✅ Utilise decentralised social media for better audience ownership. ✅ Implement blockchain for transparency in advertising and fraud prevention. ✅ Accept cryptocurrency payments for online services and eCommerce transactions.

9. AI-Powered Data Analytics & CRO

Data-driven decision-making enhances marketing performance: ✅ Use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Hotjar, and Crazy Egg to analyse user behaviour. ✅ Conduct A/B testing on landing pages, emails, and ads for optimisation. ✅ Leverage predictive analytics to identify trends and customer preferences. ✅ Improve website UX and sales funnels to increase conversions.

10. Voice & Visual Search Optimisation

As voice and visual search continue to grow, businesses must adapt: ✅ Optimise content for natural language and voice search queries. ✅ Implement image and video search SEO using Google Lens and Pinterest Visual Search. ✅ Enhance accessibility with alt text, metadata, and structured product descriptions. ✅ Focus on multimedia-rich content to align with AI-driven search results.

🔥 Final Thoughts

To stay competitive in 2025, brands must embrace AI, automation, and data-driven strategies while maintaining an authentic connection with their audience. Businesses that leverage new technologies while prioritising customer experience will stand out in the evolving digital space.

📌 Read more insights at: �� check out

#DigitalMarketing2025 #MarketingTrends #AIinMarketing

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jeevaai · 26 days ago

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Understanding Autonomous SDR Platforms: The Future of Sales Automation

The B2B sales world is changing fast thanks to autonomous SDR platforms—agentic AI systems that automate the entire sales development process. For startups and growing companies, especially founders, CROs, RevOps, and Demand-Gen leaders, this tech is a game-changer in 2025.

What’s an Autonomous SDR Platform?

Think of it as a super-smart AI Sales Development Rep that:

Processes huge data sets (from CRMs, websites, public info)

Makes decisions and plans outreach on its own

Crafts personalized multi-channel messages (email, LinkedIn, and more)

Learns and adapts with every interaction

Unlike basic automation, it works 24/7 independently, freeing your team to focus on closing deals.

Book a Demo: https://www.jeeva.ai/request-demo

How Does It Work?

Smart Prospecting: Finds high-potential leads using AI and buying signals

Data Enrichment: Builds rich profiles for truly personalized outreach

Multi-Channel Engagement: Runs emails, LinkedIn, and other touchpoints automatically

Lead Qualification: Talks to prospects, asks questions, and nurtures leads

Meeting Scheduling: Books qualified meetings directly into your calendar

Continuous Learning: Optimizes every step using real-time data

Why It Matters

Founders: Scale pipeline fast without adding costly headcount

CROs: Get steady, 24/7 lead flow and better conversion rates

RevOps: Automate tedious tasks and get clear data insights

Demand-Gen: Deliver hyper-personalized outreach that really connects

Challenges to Consider

Data quality is key

Integration with your CRM must be seamless

Keep the human touch for handoffs

Avoid spamming with poor personalization

Ensure ethical AI use and bias mitigation

The Future Is Here

Agentic AI SDRs like Jeeva AI are transforming sales development—handling lead gen, enrichment, multi-channel outreach, and booking meetings at less than 25% of human SDR cost. Ready to scale smarter?

Contact Jeeva AI 2708 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403 Phone: +1 424-645-7525 Email: [email protected]

#Autonomous SDR Platform #Jeevaai #Sales Automation

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carlhofelina · 4 months ago

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Why Empowering Your Tech Startup Business is Key to Sustainable Growth

Tech startup businesses face many challenges, and while rapid growth is often the goal, achieving sustainable growth is essential for long-term success. Empowering your tech startup business with strategic planning, innovation, and resilience is crucial to staying competitive and ensuring a strong future.

10 Strategies for Empowering Tech Startup Businesses

1. Defining Vision and Mission

A clear vision and mission are fundamental for guiding your tech startup business. The vision sets long-term goals, while the mission outlines the approach to achieve them. By defining these elements, tech startup businesses can:

Make informed decisions

Align teams

Attract investors

A well-communicated vision also helps keep employees motivated and focused on company goals, providing direction during challenges. [1]

2. Fostering Innovation and Agility

Innovation drives the growth of tech startup businesses, and agility ensures they can adapt quickly to changes in the market. To support innovation, tech startup businesses should:

Encourage creative thinking and experimentation

Test new ideas and adjust quickly

Stay adaptable to new technologies and consumer behaviors

Agility in response to market shifts helps maintain relevance and competitiveness.

3. Building a Resilient Business Model

A solid business model provides the foundation for sustainable growth in any tech startup business. Many tech startup businesses fail by scaling too fast without a flexible model. Key steps to build resilience include:

Diversifying revenue streams

Focusing on customer retention

Improving operational efficiency

These strategies reduce risks and ensure a stable structure for long-term growth.

4. Leveraging Technology for Efficiency

Tech startup businesses should embrace technology to streamline operations. Automation, AI, and cloud computing help reduce manual tasks, allowing tech startup businesses to focus on growth. Key tools include:

Automated workflows

CRM systems

AI-driven data analytics

These technologies boost productivity and reduce inefficiencies, helping tech startup businesses scale effectively.

5. Prioritizing Customer-Centric Strategies

Customer satisfaction is crucial for sustainable growth in any tech startup business. Startups should build strong relationships with customers by:

Gathering feedback and adapting products or services

Improving user experience

Offering personalized solutions

A customer-focused approach increases loyalty, encourages referrals, and reduces churn.

6. Investing in Talent and Leadership

The strength of your team determines the success of your tech startup business. Investing in talent means fostering an environment of growth through:

Encouraging communication and collaboration

Providing skill development opportunities

Rewarding innovation and problem-solving

When employees feel valued, they contribute to the company's long-term growth and success.

7. Addressing Regulatory and Compliance Challenges

Tech startup businesses must ensure compliance with relevant regulations to avoid risks. Common challenges include:

Intellectual property rights

Data privacy laws

Industry-specific regulations

By staying proactive in compliance, tech startup businesses build trust with investors, customers, and partners.

8. Incorporating Sustainable Practices

Sustainability is now essential for businesses, including tech startup businesses. Startups should integrate sustainable practices, such as:

Reducing environmental impact

Implementing remote work policies

Supporting ethical supply chains

Sustainable practices not only appeal to eco-conscious customers but also contribute to long-term profitability.

9. Forming Strategic Partnerships

Strategic partnerships help accelerate growth for tech startup businesses and provide additional resources. Startups can benefit from partnerships by:

Expanding into new markets

Sharing knowledge and resources

Reducing costs and risks

Strong partnerships increase credibility and provide a competitive edge.

10. Maintaining Financial Discipline

Financial discipline ensures long-term success for any tech startup business. Startups must manage their resources carefully to avoid running out of capital. Key strategies include:

Monitoring cash flow

Diversifying funding sources

Prioritizing profitability

Financial discipline prepares tech startup businesses for unexpected challenges and allows for reinvestment in growth.

Conclusion

Empowering your tech startup business involves focusing on key areas such as vision, innovation, resilience, and financial discipline. By building a strong foundation in these areas, tech startup businesses can ensure long-term growth and success in an ever-changing market.

Additionally, effective lead gen strategies, such as leveraging the services provided by companies like Radius Global Solutions, and maintaining high data quality service, can significantly enhance the growth potential of your tech startup business.

Ready to empower your startup? Start implementing these strategies today and set the foundation for a sustainable, successful future. Visit Best Virtual Specialist to learn how our solutions can help your business grow.

Reference:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/future-proofing-tech-startups-ensuring-sustainability-sanyal-ho8ec/

#lead gen #radius global solutions #data quality service

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pitchburgh · 11 months ago

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So work has me figuring out a whole new ticketing system and CRM pretty much from scratch. My task is to rebuild all our old workflows (we have about 100) in a totally different environment. this is so hard.

and also FUN I am flourishing I love a challenge

#what do you mean i cant build a 'when a ticket is created' workflow #what the fuck is a template #unironically i should have brought my cat ears to wear

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aussiebizboost · 2 months ago

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CRM CLASSIC – The Smart, Free Business Solution!

Running a small or medium-sized business is challenging—you need to manage sales, track leads, oversee finances, and keep your team aligned. CRM CLASSIC simplifies these processes, offering an all-in-one 100% free CRM/ERP platform trusted by 7,000+ businesses in 30 countries.

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With built-in automation, smart workflow tracking, and seamless communication tools, CRM CLASSIC ensures efficiency, helping businesses scale faster and close more deals.

📢 Sign up today—it’s 100% FREE!

#crm #crmclassic #business

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whateverisbeautiful · 10 months ago

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♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#32: The Safety (1.04)

gif cred: @riickgrimes

It was very clear up to this point in TOWL that Rick hadn't felt alive in years. But in this next scene, we learn that Michonne hadn't truly been feeling safe in years. And why? Because the only time she feels safe is with Rick Grimes. 😭

Danai wrote and delivered a line that moved me, broke me, and healed me all at the same and I have so many thoughts on it because I appreciate it so much 🥲...

So inside the gym, Rick lets Michonne know that the CRM took out the helicopter because they always destroy any evidence that they exist. Then he acknowledges that the whole building is buckling but Michonne is preoccupied with something that’s caught her attention.

When she doesn’t respond to him, Rick says, "Michonne?" and she takes hold of a note left behind by a deceased innovator, Lakshmi Patel. Michonne starts to read it aloud and it explains that this place consisted of like-minded innovators trying to live off the grid and create a new, sustained, and hopeful future.

Patel clearly lost hope in that vision saying that their motto of ‘progress and redemption through innovation’ is now like a sick joke. It’s interesting the letter then says, “I can’t face how much I have failed everyone” because that connects to something Rick feels, especially since when he chose to die he believed he died a failure.

Patel says she can’t continue to watch their mission die and apologizes. Meanwhile, Rick reads a much-needed message on the wall that says “Trust in your ability to adapt and overcome. Your past doesn’t define you.” And he def needs to hear that.

gif cred: @clonecaptains

Michonne concludes reading the letter as Patel expresses her hope to be remembered as someone who refused to leave the world the same way she found it. And then Michonne gives a sad look at the body beside the letter seeing the somber fate of Patel.

Michonne knows there are some connections to be drawn between this letter and Rick so she notes how it tends to not work out and fall apart when people try to save the world their own way. And just to make it extra clear she’s talking about Rick she says, “Sound familiar?”

(Side note: I like how she stays having one side of her shirt hanging off her shoulder. There’s something casual and comfortable about it plus it’s sorta like she’s trying to get Rick to realize the shirts already hanging off and he can take the rest off if he gets it together lol)

Michonne says, “It’s just like this place. They thought they knew it all.” And then because these two can’t resist throwing some jabs in their arguments this ep she adds, “Oh except the killing of innocent people. Except that part.”

Also, I like the framing with a literal barrier between Rick and Michonne that paints the picture of the figurative barriers between them as well. Then Rick sounds the most CRM-ish he’s ever sounded when he responds saying, “The city stands.” Had me like...

And Michonne felt the same because the way she sighs - she’s so over this Commando front Rick is putting on. What happened to 'this isn’t my city'? I miss that energy.

And then Rick says, “And I’ll stop the killing. I’ll find a way.” He's so prepared to just burden himself with this mission. And Michonne challenges that, mentioning just like Patel thought she’d find a way...and we see how that worked out for her.

Rick says, “You still don’t understand.” And the reason Michonne 'doesn’t understand' this is because it’s not the actual root of why Rick won’t go home. She can’t be fooled. And what Michonne does understand is that what Rick is proposing to do is basically, “Signing up for lifelong duty to the enemy.” But Rick rebuts that, “This is about ending the enemy.”

I love that Michonne is quick to respond saying, “This is not you, Rick.” She keeps trying to emphasize this because she knows him deeply and she knows this is not him being anywhere near his true self.

It's really fascinating to see this scenario play out where Rick has lost himself and is now back with the one person who knows him better than he knows himself, who can continually and accurately remind him that this version of him is not really him.

gif cred: @riickgrimes

But Rick thinks there are some aspects of this version of him that are authentic as he says, “This isn’t me how? That I would give everything - my hand - my life for you. That’s not me?”

gif cred: @riickgrimes

And I do love hearing Rick basically say I would give absolutely everything for you and how that's him to his core. And it is him, but also a healthy Rick would be fighting to be with her too, not just die for her.

gif cred: @riickgrimes

As Rick makes his way over to her side of the barrier he yells, “This is what I need to do to keep you safe!” Safety has understandably been such a huge priority for Rick to provide since the very beginning of TWD. And when he yells this I can hear this fear in his voice that he genuinely doesn’t think there’s another way to keep her safe than the one he’s taking.

I appreciate how passionate Rick feels about keeping her safe but also…the tone of it just needed to come down a few notches because no one should be yelling at Michonne. 👌🏽

Also, this made me think about how in the season 4 finale, Rick tells Daryl “I want to keep him safe. That’s all that matters” regarding protecting Carl after the horrible night with the Claimers. Keeping his family safe is such a driving force of Rick's character and he feels the same intense devotion to protecting Michonne as he yells that he has to stay with the CRM to keep her safe.

Her safety is all that matters to him rn and he’ll do anything to preserve it. But that’s why it’s such a perfect and impactful gut punch for Michonne to then reveal where her true source of safety comes from in this scene.

gif cred: @riickgrimes

Despite Rick's more ramped-up energy, Michonne, like she so often had done in the main show, (with that bullet moment from Clear being top of mind) approaches Rick's antsy energy with this arresting calm and beautiful vulnerability as she just melts my heart by softly telling Rick....

“The only time I feel safe is when I’m with you.”

gif cred: @figmentof

Y’all…😭😭😭 Perfection. I love it so much and it’s truly my favorite thing she’s ever told him. 😍

Before I started writing these TOWL posts I knew two lines were basically going to need a whole post dedicated to the line alone and it’s this one here from Michonne and another line from Rick in episode 5 that we’ll talk about later. There’s just so much to unpack with Michonne telling Rick that the only time she feels safe is with him. It makes total sense.

I had made a post right after episode 4 that incorporated TWD gifs of all the moments where it was evident Michonne got her safety from Rick. And I just think it’s the sweetest thing on the planet to know that in this dangerous world, the one thing that most made Michonne feel like it’s gonna be okay is Rick. 🥹 I once saw someone say Michonne makes Rick strong and Rick makes Michonne safe and I love that. Gospel truth. 💯

It’s such a big deal too because Michonne is an incredibly strong, competent, independent woman who many look at and quickly assume she can just fearlessly protect herself. And while she can protect herself, Michonne has always had so many layers to her so she’s also vulnerable and needs to feel safe and reassured from something outside of herself too. And I love that she knows she found that in Rick. 🥹

gif cred: @coolpartytimefan

Then the utter pain comes in when you realize this means for almost eight years Michonne hasn’t truly felt safe. She’s had to gracefully balance the responsibilities, fears, and expectations of motherhood and leadership as well as establish security for others and some semblance of security for herself, all without the personal safe space of her husband to turn to. It breaks me. 😥

And this is another reason I’m glad TOWL gave Rick and Michonne this space to be not just fighters, community leaders, or parents, but a husband and wife trying to find each other and themselves again.

Also, I love that she says 'the only time.' Like genuinely she’s either safe with him or not really feeling safe at all. And I feel like that’s also clear in her TWD scenes post-Rick with all the ways Michonne would cling to Rick's memory through various items. It's like she was trying to garner some sense of comfort again from the only person she ever completely let her guard down and trusted she’ll be safe with.

I remember I received a message a few months ago that touched on if I'd explore when Michonne seemed to realize that she only felt safe with Rick in TWD, how it impacted her actions, and what that evolving journey of safety with him looked like. It took me a minute to get to, but I said I would definitely talk about it, and so I want to break that all down now, right here. ⬇😊

When it comes to Michonne and her safety becoming tied to Rick. I think it happened before she knew it happened. 👌🏽

Now of course in season 3, Rick and Michonne are strangers so it doesn't happen this season. But it does seem like Michonne's inherent safety with Rick started at least budding even this early.

I especially think this because of that beloved scene in Clear where she tells Rick about talking to her dead boyfriend. That’s a very personal and vulnerable thing to share, especially from someone who didn’t even tell Andrea much about herself when traveling with her for months. (Which was a smart move considering the way Andrea stayed gossiping 🙂)

To me, it shows that somehow Michonne felt safe enough with Rick to open up about herself - I think because she recognized that she and him have qualities inside of them that are uniquely similar.

And then at the end of season 3 when Rick comes real close to delivering her to the Governor she still comes back and shows grace, trusting that she could return and be safe with them. But again I don’t think it’s season 3 where her safety is tied to Rick yet.

I think that comes in season 4.

However, not 4A just yet because I think in the first half of season 4 Michonne is absolutely starting to feel more safe and comfortable with Rick but that in itself feels unsafe to her at the time. Which is why she keeps herself at a warm distance from him.

I never lose sight of Michonne’s backstory when thinking about what’s made the character who she is because it’s so important. I know the show sorta put her losing a son and boyfriend in the background but for me it always informs so much about her, in the early seasons especially. And that’s such a traumatizing thing she had to go through and so you just know that it’s probably a lot to now be growing closer and closer to this man and his son at the prison knowing how things turned out for the man and child she lost at that refugee camp.

Michonne clearly really likes Rick and Carl in 4A but letting them in close after knowing profound loss is a bit of a fear for her so instead she’d always find ways to keep Rick at a friendly distance and stay out and about, of course for other motives like tracking down the Governor but also to run from the potential “danger” of being hurt again if she lets Rick become a safe space for her like he’s so naturally becoming.

...But then the prison falls and so too do some of the walls around Michonne’s heart.

She tries to go back to her isolated ways after the prison but she can’t. She’s found family in those Grimes boys and she knows it and so even if she doesn’t know where those footsteps lead in After she knows she has to follow the call of her heart to be apart of something again.

In a heartbreaking scene in After (4.09), Michonne talks to Mike one more time, vulnerably saying she misses him and even saying she missed him while he was still here. It made me think how Michonne had probably also been keeping her distance from Rick out of a sense of loyalty to Mike. Just like Rick wrestled with feeling like he needed to be solely grieving Lori all the while falling hard for the katana-wielding woman that’s entered his life, I think Michonne also was subconsciously wrestling with feeling this intrinsic connection to Rick so soon after losing her family.

I really feel like Rick and Michonne’s immense sense of loyalty played a part in their slow burn being slow despite catching feelings for each other so quickly. Because while both of their former partners weren’t their person, they still weren’t just going to give up on them or abandon the memory of them, it’s not who Rick and Michonne are - they’re both loyal to the core, even to partners who weren’t loyal to them.

In some ways it seems like Mike might have stopped being able to understand Michonne, figuratively disappearing on her and giving up while she kept fighting, similar to how Lori just couldn’t understand Rick. But then Michonne and Rick met each other and felt exceptionally seen, known, heard, loved, and safe in ways that probably even surprised them towards the beginning of their bond. They finally found someone who could love them as loyally as they love, which is part of why of course their love can never be stopped or denied, not even by each other.

I think about how in season 3 Lori tells Rick he’s not a killer. But the thing is that killer is a part of him. It's not all of him but it is in him as we saw him really confronted with that side of himself at the end of season 4.

What’s beautiful about Rick's relationship with Michonne is she knows he’s a killer, even verbalizing that outright to Merle early in season 3, and she doesn’t have to deny it or change it to love him. Michonne gets that it’s in Rick and respects that as one of the many parts of him she respects and understands, not just from the outside looking in but personally. Basically, Rick and Michonne are each other's match in all the ways.

So in a beautiful act of resilience, Michonne fights the fear of being close to people again when she finds Rick and Carl in that house. And she truly embraces them as hers from here on out.

And I think here in this wonderful 4.09 moment when she finds Rick and Carl in that house is when Michonne more readily embraces that she feels most safe with Rick.

In Claimed (4.11), I think we start seeing more visibly how Michonne's safety is tied to Rick and how she subconsciously senses it. In that home, both Rick and Michonne express that they need each other and are willing to possibly make a home with the two of them and Carl. An unspoken agreement that they're forever family now.

One of the many interesting things about that scene between Rick and Michonne in Claimed is that Michonne says she’s done taking breaks. But she wasn’t necessarily leaving the prison to take breaks, she was going on runs and hunting down the Governor. However, phrasing it as 'breaks' could imply that part of her constant trips away from the prison was her leaving to run from how close she was becoming to Rick and Carl - to “take a break” from becoming reintegrated into a family after the tragic aftermath of her last family turned her into a lone wolf.

But I love that when she said she’s done taking breaks she meant that and lived up to it. And then in each 4B scene, we see more and more how Michonne starts to draw closer to the Grimes boys and feel safe enough to be herself with Rick.

Rick gets to see Michonne's playful side with Carl, he wants to include her in family hunting excursions, they like talking to each other and smiling over dinner, and they both often check in on each other to make sure they’re taken care of.

By the end of season 4 when Michonne knows she’s okay because Rick's okay, I think she's now cognizant that she feels safe with Rick in a way that’s different than anything & anyone else. And truly how beautiful is it that in a world where safety is a true rarity, Michonne found that so fully in Rick. 🥹

Also, as I've detailed in many a post, this is also the point where I believe she's subconsciously fallen in love with him. 🥰

And where Rick’s previous wife and his former best friend/sheriff's deputy doubted his ability to keep people safe, Michonne trusts Rick wholeheartedly as a good man capable of protecting his family against anything.

That's one of the great things about rewatching TWD Seasons 1 & 2. Those early seasons make it so clear that Michonne is a love Rick has never experienced before. We don’t just feel like their love is different we get to see it in how much more Michonne loves, respects, understands, believes in, and just all and all likes Rick as opposed to his former wife and best friend.

Last year I wrote a whole reflecting on richonne post about how Michonne and Rick rarely ever split up in TWD and were always paired up for most things. It was proof of their magnetism, trust, fondness for one another, and love.

But I like how now Rick and Michonne never splitting up in TWD is also such a clear sign of the safety they brought each other. And in season 5, that’s especially clear because they really are side by side through so much that season.

I think about when Michonne put her hand on Ricks before they entered Alexandria and how that was her way of offering comfort to him while also being comforted by his presence too. Just like Rick, a large reason she felt safe enough to walk out of that car and approach those ASZ gates after everything they’d been through is because she had Rick by her side.🥲

The one time they’re not operating side by side with Rick hiding the gun plot from her, they both feel so weighed down by having anything come between them, and they're eager to repair the distance by the end of the season.

Michonne had felt both asleep and restless when they arrived at ASZ and part of it is because her source of safety was sorta losing his mind. When Rick begins his return to sanity - and Michonne really is a core source of sanity for him - we see a sense of safety return to Michonne as well as she declares she’ll always be with him.

I always adored that s5 'I’m still with you moment' and I love it even more now knowing that part of why she so confidently knows she’ll be with him no matter what is because Rick is who she feels safest with. 😭

In 6A all of Richonne's scenes continue to solidify that Michonne feels most safe with Rick. And when Rick goes out into the horde in NWO Michonne full-on panics because he’s doing something unsafe and her own safety just evaporates as she expresses a rare moment of disarray.

And then in 6B we get to see a more personal and intimate way that Michonne feels safe with Rick. Even just walking around more stripped down in a robe and towel shows he’s made her feel super comfortable.

The heightened safety she feels with Rick is especially evident in their canon era - from the way they decompress on that couch before their first kiss, the way he calmingly reaches for her in the RV and it seems to immediately bring her peace, to just the safety to let herself be adored and loved on so fully by Rick’s good kind heart in all their comfy and sensual moments at home. 🥰

When she confides in Rick and tells him at the end of 7A that she only wants to go forward if it's with him - "you and me" - she means it.

And all through season 7 it’s clear she knows full well that the only time she truly feels safe is with him. It’s why she nearly throws in the towel - or throws in the sword - when she thinks walkers got to Rick in Say Yes and so vulnerably runs into his arms when seeing he is alive.

Michonne knew she couldn’t lose him on that honeymoon run. Not just 'I don't want to lose you,' she knew 'I can't lose you,' - something Rick too would grasp fully once taken from her for years. With soulmates like this, they lose each other, then in many ways they lose themselves.

When Michonne told Rick she couldn't lose him in Say Yes, I knew she felt it was because she loves him deeply but after TOWL it’s clear how she also knew she’d never truly feel safe again if she were to lose him. 😭 They are each other's security in this crazy world.

Then, after getting in that brutal brawl in the s7 finale, Rick makes getting to Michonne a priority and when he finds her against that wall, she just hears his voice and feels his touch and it looks like a sense of safety has been restored to her. And to Rick too.

In season 8, sirens go off in Michonne's head being away from Rick during the war and it’s clear she won’t be able to rest truly until he’s back.

And in that season's msf I’ve always felt it’s so clear that when she tells Judith she’ll bring her daddy back, Michonne is excited for both her baby girl and herself that they’ll have Rick back finally - the man who makes their family feel complete and safe. 👌🏽

After tragically losing Carl (which is forever heartbreaking 💔💔💔), both Michonne and Rick try to be a safe space for each other even despite their own immense individual pain.

And they do find their way back to each other, saying i love you and holding hands off to war because no matter the circumstances if they can hold each other they can feel a sense of safety.

And in s9, before Rick leaves, Richonne really feel so at home and safer than ever with each other. It’s a beautiful time for them and all their nice season 9 scenes show how Michonne is wrapped in the love and safety of her husband. Even literally just waking up with his arm wrapped around her.

When Michonne had some real apprehension regarding if the people could really band together after Negan, she always knew she could voice those concerns with Rick and he’d reassure her so encouragingly. Also for a woman to agree to get pregnant in an apocalypse - that requires feeling a lot of safety and Rick made Michonne feel safe enough to do that. 🥲

But then Rick is taken and it’s devastating. 💔 And with his absence, Michonne’s safety also goes away.

She had to bring the beautiful life they created into the world without him. And you can just imagine there were so many nights alone in bed during her pregnancy when she’d longed for him to be there. And so when she looks at Rick with the CRM in ep 3 and yells you were alive ‘with them’ in this episode, I always sense this added hurt because those CRM people, who don’t even appreciate Rick, got to be around him all the time while she was miles away longing for him to be with her and feeling unsafe without him.

And this profession that she only feels safe with him makes all those moments post-Rick where she’d still find ways to connect with him all the more meaningful because even after he’s gone, she still only feels at least a semblance of safety with him.

Be it through the ring she wears and even fiddles with on her finger when needing to think, a Sherriff action figure, the bullet shell from his gun that she always wears in her hair to keep him close, talking to him in their bedroom, and most notably wrapping herself in his clothes just to try to remember how safe she once felt in his arms.

It moves me so much how she still only felt safe with Rick even after he was taken from her. She tells Judith how she felt so lost after Rick was gone. And because she’s strong she figured out how to keep going of course, but the world became an ultra-dangerous place again so it makes sense why she’d become as cautious as she became. Nothing could make her truly feel safe until she was back with her true love.

And when Michonne is back with Rick in TOWL, you see that sense of safety start to come back. She has no clue where he’s taking her or how they’ll get out of this CRM place but she trusts him. She knows he’ll do anything to keep her safe.

But the surprising aspect is Rick will do anything to keep her safe…including trying to destroy being her safe space so that she’ll be willing to leave him and make it home. 🥀☹️

And that is exactly what we see happen as this heart-gripping gym scene continues. So my extra self has to do a part two to talk about the latter half of this gym scene.

I'll conclude this post by saying, “The only time I feel safe is when I’m with you” is such a deeply beautiful, meaningful, and memorable line. 😭 Black women, both in fiction and in reality, don't always get to express that innate want to feel safe with someone/something outside of ourselves and so seeing Michonne get to say that her safety doesn't just come from her but from her husband was powerful and lovely. 👏🏽

I forever love Danai for knowing Michonne would feel this way in her relationship with Rick and allowing her to voice it so perfectly and authentically here. This episode really was written by someone who knows Rick and Michonne inside and out and I adore the way Richonne is each other's truest safe space. 🥹👌🏽

#richonne #towl #reveling in richonne #1.04 #RIR (32)#the ones who live #twd towl #michonne grimes #rick grimes #rick x michonne #twol #michonne #rick and michonne #twd: the ones who live #twd #richonnefandom

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