30 3 / 2011

Last week I was wondering what kind of experience did I gain in the last 2 work years. What skills did I gain? Which capabilities improved? Can I call myself a specialist in a certain area? Being a business developer sounds super fine, but it is a term that covers a large spectrum of duties, skills and knowledge. A very generic term. I asked my manager/mentor about these questions that I have. His answer was that the first years of work are about learning how to work, getting comfortable with a work environment. More or less, you learn where is the printer, the Wi-Fi connection, how to write official emails, when to ask questions etc. He also added that after 2 or 3 years you reach a point where you need to specialize. I got to this point: I need to specialize, I need to be able to preach it at a high level and do it with my closed eyes. However, after the epiphany of specialization, a new set of questions rushed in. What kind of specialization? What do I like to do most? Where is the starting point? What tools and resources do I need to use? The answer came with thunders and lightning: very fast, but at the same time very scary. It is sales. I want to be a good salesman. The issue is that I never sold anything, except a pair of skis 2 weeks ago, my running shoes (Marktplaats.nl rules) and my first car (long time ago). Even then, my friend - Internet helped me :) The future definitely will make me: + to “sell” myself, my CV and my experience for a new position + to put my ideas, concepts and more on sale + to sell a product + to sell a new pair of skis :) + etc. And it is scary because to become a salesman is not about the amount of trainings you get. It is a combination between what kind of person you are, your communication skills, natural skills and a lot more. You need to have it tattooed in you DNA.  Even if my father is the SALESMAN (with capital letters), I am a bit worried that this DNA sequence was not transferred to me. My father told me so many stories about they way he sold TV sets, motorcycle parts, furniture, pavement bricks, houses and now hotel rooms. He always succeed to convince a buyer to get a beige furniture, even when the buyer wanted a red couch :) I need some guidance. I started to get documented by reading Purple Cow by Seth Godin and Marketing in the age of Google by Vanessa Fox. But theory has to be put in practice, I need do it, to sweat, to try. If you passed through this scary experience, don’t be shy and share it with me. It is said that a good salesman is a gold mine for any company. I want to become a gold mine :D

Last week I was wondering what kind of experience did I gain in the last 2 work years. What skills did I gain? Which capabilities improved? Can I call myself a specialist in a certain area?

Being a business developer sounds super fine, but it is a term that covers a large spectrum of duties, skills and knowledge. A very generic term.

I asked my manager/mentor about these questions that I have. His answer was that the first years of work are about learning how to work, getting comfortable with a work environment. More or less, you learn where is the printer, the Wi-Fi connection, how to write official emails, when to ask questions etc. He also added that after 2 or 3 years you reach a point where you need to specialize.

I got to this point: I need to specialize, I need to be able to preach it at a high level and do it with my closed eyes.

However, after the epiphany of specialization, a new set of questions rushed in. What kind of specialization? What do I like to do most? Where is the starting point? What tools and resources do I need to use?

The answer came with thunders and lightning: very fast, but at the same time very scary. It is sales. I want to be a good salesman. The issue is that I never sold anything, except a pair of skis 2 weeks ago, my running shoes (Marktplaats.nl rules) and my first car (long time ago). Even then, my friend - Internet helped me :)

The future definitely will make me:

+ to “sell” myself, my CV and my experience for a new position

+ to put my ideas, concepts and more on sale

+ to sell a product

+ to sell a new pair of skis :)

+ etc.

And it is scary because to become a salesman is not about the amount of trainings you get. It is a combination between what kind of person you are, your communication skills, natural skills and a lot more. You need to have it tattooed in you DNA. 

Even if my father is the SALESMAN (with capital letters), I am a bit worried that this DNA sequence was not transferred to me. My father told me so many stories about they way he sold TV sets, motorcycle parts, furniture, pavement bricks, houses and now hotel rooms. He always succeed to convince a buyer to get a beige furniture, even when the buyer wanted a red couch :)

I need some guidance. I started to get documented by reading Purple Cow by Seth Godin and Marketing in the age of Google by Vanessa Fox. But theory has to be put in practice, I need do it, to sweat, to try.

If you passed through this scary experience, don’t be shy and share it with me.

It is said that a good salesman is a gold mine for any company. I want to become a gold mine :D

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