As a person on the business development side of our company, I spend my days on the phone, meeting with people, hosting demos and webinars, replying to emails and drafting proposals – the typical day of many salespeople.  No matter what the sales approach, the ultimate goal is to sell, sell and sell some more.  I have always enjoyed sales because of the rush I get from any sale, big or small.  It is also like running your own little business without the risk.  This isn’t to say that there is no risk; I mean what use am I to the company if I am not selling anything?  Inherently, this lingering fact tends to stir up stress and frustration at times.  As a result, I’ll find myself trying new techniques, overly digesting conversations and ending up in “paralysis by analysis” mode.  Now as I write this with a clear head I feel as though I have a pretty good handle on where this all stems from.  It isn’t the fact that my income and my livelihood depend on selling because I have generally succeeded under that pressure (self-promotion / pat on back).  What gets me going is when I can’t illustrate, explain, or make a compelling of enough case for someone to work with us.  It is not because I think we are the best at what we do (although I think we’re pretty darn good) or that I develop a “why don’t they like me?” complex, it is actually because of the reasons I get from non-buyers on a day-to-day basis.

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