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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (186312)	2/5/2010 8:38:05 AM
From: altair19	2 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 361702

S2 <Why don't schools teach Sales?> Great question and good article. I think most companies and graduate schools feel that sales is so tied to specific products that it doesn't make sense "teaching it". Also, there's a subtle snob/hierarchy dynamic going on. The big money, status and responsibilty resides in Corporate functions, product line mgt, brand manager, strategy, geography manager etc. Sales is the infantry...it's hard..very straightforward and highly situational. You can make a lot of money, but it generally based on something you achieve specifically ...e.g.110% of quota etc. Other positions in larger companies are are compensated through stock options and bonuses where the line-of-sight in what they do can be obscure but lucrative. In sales, you know if you are winning or losing so it's easy to beat on them or pat them on the back. I was in computer sales in the late 70's...I never worried about all the political crap and endless meetings in the company...I spent 90% of my time with people who didn't work for the company ..(customers). It was fun and I made some decent money. It felt like a highly stylized form of hunting. However it wasn't until I moved to other areas of the company and began getting stock options when I learned where the real money is. Plus the work was fascinating and varied when I began working in marketing and then the services world. geez....didn't mean to ramble on...but the sales guys always had a soft spot in my heart. You better listen to your sales people because they are closest to the marketplace. A19