Replace all Entrepreneurship Programs with Sales Training

In a comment on last week's WSJ op-ed, John Fox of Venture Marketing offered the following thought: "it is exasperating to find so little sales training or formal education available [for entrepreneurs]."

This is a subtle yet insightful point. A colleague once suggested that if our aim is to create more entrepreneurs or at least better prepare potential entrepreneurs, we should replace all entrepreneurship education programs with basic sales courses. After all, and to Fox's point, entrepreneurs are engaged at every step of the way in selling something: an idea, themselves, a product, a vision.

Comments

[Len Denton]

In Fortune 1000 companies or the smallest start-up, nothing good happens until someone sells something!

[Dustin]

The invisible hand is at work. Entrepreneurs have only in the past decade or so really claimed the celebrity-like status that they have. The dotcom boom created some of that. It's now quite sexy to be an entrepreneur of any type. That will balance out. It will go from being a swear word, to a sex symbol, to just another respected career path and when it becomes the last, it will be formally taught in schools (better).

[Terrance Fairley]

I would have to agree with you concerning this point. The fundamental truth is that no current or aspiring entreprenuer can be successful in business until he or she sells something. No income is generated, nor addition help hired, neither is equipment is bought until something is sold by the entreprenuer. Selling in my opinion should be the first course taught when considering going into entreprenuership.

[Quick Loans]

I'm often of the opinion that some people you simply cannot teach sales too. It's a natural instinct to a certain degree.

[louis vuitton]

The battle of ideas is not won or lost in Congress, or even in elections, but in the long assessment of history. Just ask Qeng Ho.

[replica watches]

The battle of ideas is not won or lost in Congress, or even in elections, but in the long assessment of history. Just ask Qeng Ho