I don't want to limit my potential. Sales without industry restrictions.

I work in IT sales. My company provides business efficiency systems and I sell these to companies. For example, I sell systems that enable remote work or reduce the time taken by current services. I sell such systems.

The appeal of my current company is that I can make proposals to a wide range of industries, such as real estate and manufacturing. Previously, I was making proposals to companies in a specific industry, and if I continued like that, I felt I would only be able to do that in my career. So, I wanted to join a company where I could broaden the scope of my proposals.

It was pretty much as I expected. I had the impression that salespeople were very aggressive, and indeed they are. System companies tend to seem rigid, but they are not at all. Everyone is very aggressive in creating proposal documents and trying to meet with decision-makers, which is exactly what I wanted to do too, so it was just as I imagined.

The systems I introduce are meant to help with business efficiency, but what each company wants to achieve through business efficiency varies. Therefore, meeting with presidents or executives is very important to understand these details. In that sense, the human element is strong.

People often think that if you understand the system, you can easily sell it, but that's not the case. After implementing the system, each company has different expectations for the future. So, even though I sell systems, I also need to consider the future landscape and possibilities that the system enables, otherwise, I won't get orders. I want to emphasize that it's not just about selling systems.

I think AI is convenient, but over-reliance on it can lead to stagnation. For example, I use it for brainstorming proposals for specific companies, but I always take the output from AI, think about it, and put it into my own words. I use it as an auxiliary tool.

From a sales perspective, the best moment is when I quickly secure a high-value order. I believe this happens because the client truly values the proposal I made, and they decide to go ahead with it on the spot without much discounting. They see the value in using our service rather than just the price, which allows me to secure high-value orders. Getting an immediate 'yes' on the spot is the most joyful moment for me.

One challenging situation is when it takes a long time from proposal to order. Sometimes, the president of a company is hard to reach, and in such cases, I need to persuade the field staff. However, if the field staff is a section chief, they need to first report to the department head or consult with them. Then, the process goes from section chief to department head, and from department head to executive, which involves several steps. Considering the president's intentions or what executives are thinking is difficult, and even if I have worked hard with someone, the proposal might be overturned or deemed irrelevant, which can be very frustrating. Moving proposals up through the ranks takes time and is difficult.

People who lack the drive to achieve are not suited for sales. In my company, such people would probably be told to leave. While I don't deny their values, I believe that having clear goals set by the company and striving to achieve them is crucial, as it directly affects my salary and livelihood. The mindset towards goals is very important.

An unforgettable experience was when the president joined a business meeting. It was about two months after I joined the company, and I wasn't very skilled at making proposals yet. During a challenging time, the president happened to be there, and we discarded conventional ideas, focusing solely on understanding the client's needs and future aspirations. After thorough listening, I presented how our service could meet those needs, proposed a price, and got an immediate 'yes.' That moment was significant.

I don't particularly want to be in sales forever or become a sales manager. I feel I've done enough in sales. Instead, I'm considering roles like sales support, training and educating all sales staff within the company, or leveraging my sales experience in different roles, such as implementation support or appointment acquisition, which we have in our company. I'm thinking broadly about my future.

Honestly, maintaining a work-life balance is challenging, especially in sales. During the day, I'm constantly in business meetings, and in the evening or night, I prepare documents for the next day, which means work often extends beyond regular hours. From a sales perspective, achieving balance is quite difficult.

A significant motivator for me is salary. We receive bonuses twice a year, and to increase my salary, I need to achieve more, which drives me to work hard.

For me, the significance of work is earning money. My primary goal in working is to earn money to buy a house or lead a good life. To achieve this, some sacrifices are necessary. For me, coming home late is normal, and I often have to make difficult proposals to meet with presidents instead of field staff. I believe that making some sacrifices is important to achieve these goals.

Since my clients are from various industries, when I see news or walk around, I often think about how my clients might be affected or how certain businesses might benefit from our services.

I wouldn't. I've sacrificed a lot to earn money, including relationships and the ability to have and raise children. If I won the lottery and could live comfortably without working, I probably wouldn't continue working.

In the short term, yes, but in the long term, probably not. In the short term, the job allows me to earn a lot of money, which is great for buying a house. However, in the long term, if I have children, the current work style would be difficult to maintain, and my salary would likely decrease. Balancing work and family life would be challenging, so I probably wouldn't continue in the long term.

Honestly, you might have to sacrifice your private life to some extent. However, talking to presidents, executives, and making proposals to different companies can be very educational and beneficial even if you leave the sales job. I believe that gaining knowledge and experience in sales and then moving on to new challenges is a good path, so I encourage everyone to consider this approach.