It's been a while (Staind voice)

In light of recent events, I felt it pertinent to post in my blog once again. I'm not even entirely sure why I stopped - I think it might have something to do with the utter lack of interesting goings-on in my life to blog about.

That has recently changed though. As you know, I've recently moved from the world of pharmaceutical sales (via a warp whistle) to the world of energy sales. On a typical day, I will see 40-60 business owners and attempt to lower their natural gas bills by switching their supplier. I also currently manage the Dream Team - my crew of 15 people.

It's a different experience working full commission. It adds a certain level of motivation, uncertainty, and drive to every day. I know if I decide to sit back and shit the bed for a day, it's ultimately only me that suffers. It's for this reason that I've decided that commission sales without a base pay is the best possible training for entrepreneurship. Why, you ask?

Well, the parallels are striking. An entrepreneur has only himself and those he hires to maintain his profit margin. Likewise the commission salesperson is totally dependent on their own work ethic, communication skills, and motivation level. If I take off work tomorrow, that's just fine...but I won't make any money or advance my company at either type of position.

Commission sales also is a great opportunity to hear the word "No." And more "no." and more and more and more and more and MORE "No." In any position you'll hear more "no" than "yes," and this is just good practice for the real world.

The most important skill I'm learning in this position, though, is problem-solving. Training covers an impulse-based sales system that is very effective...but the real learning occurs out in the field. Customers have all sorts of unexpected problems to deal with, they have businesses to run, and everything can go wrong from their mood being less than ideal to the decision maker not being in due to vacation etc. or them being unable to get out of a contract with another company. The truly successful people in this business are those who are able to overcome those challenges and work around them.

'til next time...