How to Balance Sales and Product Development

Let me start by saying that there’s nothing wrong with taking the route of the artist. If you want to focus on the art, the product, that is completely fine. It’s a different north star, a different purpose, and I respect that. However, if you’re going to focus on that side of the equation, you better make sure you have somebody else, a partner, paying attention to the business side of things.

Sales has such a bad reputation because there have been, and continues to be, so many salesmen and women out there chasing a bonus or commission check without actually caring for what they’re selling or who they’re selling to. Being a true salesmen is being somebody that cares about the actual product and is willing to put themselves out there to back it regardless of what else may be. To be a true salesmen, you need to care. For me, this is all about the long game. I care about my legacy, so everything I put my name behind, I believe in, and I suggest you do too.

This is part of a Q&A session I did with the students of Cornell Tech Program. For more, check out the playlist here.