A sales team without a leader is like a ship without a captain or a sports team without a coach. So, when a business loses or never had a true sales leader, the void has to be filled. There are several choices available to the Board, the CEO, the Owner, or the Founder. And as in so many situations, the right decision is often dependent on the circumstances, or the details of the scenario.
Read MoreI hate the word “pivot”… and use it all the time. In disliking it, I am not alone. In recent years business publications like Inc. have included the word “Pivot” in their list of buzzwords labeled “overused,” “ridiculous,” “worst,” and “to avoid.” It is indeed an overused term.
Read MoreThe founder has taken the product to potential clients, hired a couple of salespeople, and sold it a few times. At this point do not HIRE your first VP of Sales! The executive recruiting process is going to take 6 months, cost $50-70k, and you will fire the person after 12-18 months and start over.
Read MoreI invested all my funds in product development and have nothing left to put towards sales and marketing. As a sales leader and an entrepreneur, those are the last words I want to hear. it is not a chicken-or-egg type dilemma. It is part of the continuous entrepreneurial challenge.
Read More