I have been working in Sales and Marketing for 7 months now. I really did not have to search for this job. A friend's business, needed some help, turned out I was good, hired.
Just out of curiosity couple of days ago I was looking at the requirements for the type of job I was doing, if ever I were to apply for such job at some point. I came across a really interesting phrase on one of the job advertisements : "Are you able to sell ice to Eskimos?"
I really don't know how to feel about that but in that moment I was confused and slightly disappointed at how this field was portrayed. Now basically selling ice to eskimos sounds like a really tough business. Personally, I think its not only tough but it is unethical. Your skill(scam) is to perform in this tough or useless business. Now say you were successful in selling ice to eskimos. At the end of the day when they go back home don't you think they will feel cheated? When they put that "ice" next to the ice they already have? How should you feel at the end of the same day? Or perhaps something similar happened to you the same day? You are a fisherman who sold ice to eskimos and got fish sold to from some one else?
This makes me ponder about the primitive trade I read about in Social Studies when I was at school. You buy something you do not have for the exchange of something you have in abundance. Simple exchange of goods and services.
With the boom in technical advances, production procedures and globalisation I think there is also a boom of lots of "ice" for eskimos goods. Think of all the necessities then evaluate all the possessions, I am sure there is a lot of "ice" we all possess.
There is a need of reform. I am not saying a reform in industrialisation or production of goods etc but a reform in our mind-sets. On both consumer and seller ends. I would never perceive Sales is all about selling ice to eskimos. Selling ice to eskimos sure is a great skill but its not an ethical thing to do and I am sure we all agree to this. Choose the product wisely no matter either to buy or sell. Use your passion to drive and sharpen your skills, not the other way around.
At last I would like to say its a fast pace world we live in. The hunters get hunted so lets be honest with ourselves. Respect your profession and be ethical fellow Salespersons!
Just out of curiosity couple of days ago I was looking at the requirements for the type of job I was doing, if ever I were to apply for such job at some point. I came across a really interesting phrase on one of the job advertisements : "Are you able to sell ice to Eskimos?"
I really don't know how to feel about that but in that moment I was confused and slightly disappointed at how this field was portrayed. Now basically selling ice to eskimos sounds like a really tough business. Personally, I think its not only tough but it is unethical. Your skill(scam) is to perform in this tough or useless business. Now say you were successful in selling ice to eskimos. At the end of the day when they go back home don't you think they will feel cheated? When they put that "ice" next to the ice they already have? How should you feel at the end of the same day? Or perhaps something similar happened to you the same day? You are a fisherman who sold ice to eskimos and got fish sold to from some one else?
This makes me ponder about the primitive trade I read about in Social Studies when I was at school. You buy something you do not have for the exchange of something you have in abundance. Simple exchange of goods and services.
With the boom in technical advances, production procedures and globalisation I think there is also a boom of lots of "ice" for eskimos goods. Think of all the necessities then evaluate all the possessions, I am sure there is a lot of "ice" we all possess.
There is a need of reform. I am not saying a reform in industrialisation or production of goods etc but a reform in our mind-sets. On both consumer and seller ends. I would never perceive Sales is all about selling ice to eskimos. Selling ice to eskimos sure is a great skill but its not an ethical thing to do and I am sure we all agree to this. Choose the product wisely no matter either to buy or sell. Use your passion to drive and sharpen your skills, not the other way around.
At last I would like to say its a fast pace world we live in. The hunters get hunted so lets be honest with ourselves. Respect your profession and be ethical fellow Salespersons!
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