Very few people end up in sales as a conscious choice — at least not at first. I can honestly say that I haven't heard many young adults say "I want to be a professional salesperson."
As students, they may take part-time sales positions to support themselves and pay for their education. Some discover that they have a natural aptitude for it, while others struggle to make ends meet. Along the way, they end up working for different companies and sales managers. However, seldom do these managers tell them the ugly truth about sales.
Support staff members often envy salespeople who aren't glued to their desks and seem to spend a lot of time on the golf course, expensing dinners with clients or traveling across the country. These people seldom understand the ugly truth about selling as a career.
Friends in other professions may feel pangs of jealousy when a salesperson tells them how much they earn. But they don't know the ugly truth about sales, either.
Here's the truth about sales and selling: It's a tough, grueling career. Very few salespeople will claim that their jobs are easy. Even veteran salespeople or individuals who have worked for the same company for long periods of time will tell you it is still very difficult.
