This will be the first in a series of posts that I journal and record my path to becoming an outside salesman. Right now, I have been working in inside sales for almost eight years split between two companies. I have been working with my current company for over four years and like most during this time (‘08-’12) have only had one raise in that time. I am not resentful at all and completely understand as many companies have laid off employees and have yet to hire them back.

The past four years for me has been all about doing more with less. I have a saying when making a decision. It’s either save money or make money everything else doesn’t matter.  Due to the economic cycle I have been in this position for a while and has made me very well versed in customer service. I believe to do well you need to fight in the trenches and survive long enough to see yourself promoted.

I have also found that as much as I would like to think so my situation is not all that unique. There are many young professionals who are waiting in the ranks looking to take over the positions of older member of the organization.  My current situation has two outside salesmen aged 72 and 74 both well past the age of retirement. Taking their view you can understand you do not want to retire in a bear market.  So as we moved forward it’s time to be patient and hone our skills and this series will be about what new skills salespersons will need to be equipped with.

The landscape of what a salesperson has changed. I don’t even like the word salesman or any variation and most people don’t. I would consider the position a problem solver and the better you can solve and help someone the more it will yield on your company’s bottom line.

In the coming series of posts we’ll look at:

• Becoming the best at your current job. (You don’t want to be perfect but your want to be a performer. Indispensible to the company but replaceable in the position your in.)
• Making the transition from inside to outside and how to prepare for it.
• Learning your craft and challenging those around you

We all want to keep moving forward and up. Well most of us who have the drive to do so. I have decided to capture my experience and share it with you as I progress on this journey and share what has helped and what has not. This will not be something that happens shortly or over a few weeks but as I move forward figure new things out and discover new trick and skills to be shared I will do so.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC – 531 BC)