It isn’t everyone who can say they got an education in sales at the dinner table, but for my brother and I, that’s exactly where our education—and our love of sales—began. My father was the owner and broker of a Coldwell Banker real estate franchise, and my mother

was a top agent. Frequently, our family dinner conversations revolved around listings, out-of-town buyers, and commission checks. I often say that my brother and I got our MBAs at the kitchen table.

How Sales Was Our Shortcut to Real Wealth

Money was a transparent topic in our family. We knew how much my mother made in commission on each sale. We were aware of what my dad paid himself, or if he was forgoing his own salary, so he was able to pay his employees. So, from a very early age, my brother and I knew there was big money to be made in sales.

We both agree that if my dad hadn’t decided in 1979 to quit his job with the United Telephone Company to run the real estate office, our lives would have been very different.

Choosing Sales Transformed Our Family’s Future

Our life before Dad made that professional change wasn’t a bad one; however, his decision to become a business owner afforded our family an even better life. My dad was making a fair salary as a mid-level manager with the telephone company, but my mom was a teacher working in rural schools where, in some cases, K-12 were all in one building. 

She spent thirteen years as an underpaid employee before using her time off one summer to get her real estate license. That decision was a real game-changer for our family. She quit her teaching job and threw herself into selling real estate full-time, doubling her income in the first year.

Between my dad’s savvy as a sales leader and my mom’s ability to outsell her competition, our family sold our way out of the life we had into a life that afforded us more financial freedom. We moved into a bigger house, and Mom and Dad created the ability to pay cash for cars and college with enough left over to build a nice retirement account. All of this was a direct result of their decision to pursue a profession in sales.

You Define Your Own Success in Sales

For my brother, those impromptu dinner table training sessions turned into a career as an extremely successful individual contributor. 

Me? I pursued other careers initially, but then I realized sales was my first love and my true passion. What I also learned was that, unlike my brother, my joy isn’t in making the sale, but in helping others succeed at it.

Over the years, my brother and I have often discussed our different sales roles—how he followed our mom’s path as an individual contributor and how I went the sales leadership route, following in our dad’s footsteps. 

We each think the other is crazy for their choice, but one thing we agree on is that careers in sales changed our lives, too.

There is No Limit to What You Can Do in Sales

A sales career is limitless. You can sell your way out of an unfulfilling job, financial struggles, and a life of someone else controlling your income—and into a life of financial abundance, a rewarding career, and an income that you fully control.

That’s why I wrote the book, Selling Your Way IN, and why I decided to join Sales Gravy University as an instructor. 

I am blessed to have had a different upbringing than most people. As a result, I have a responsibility to pass along my knowledge, advice, and encouragement to make it easier for you to navigate your way to the best possible outcome for you and your family.

If you’re just now considering a career in sales, my hope is that by sharing my story—along with my successes, missteps and the actionable tips I wish I’d learned earlier—you’ll gain the confidence to leave the job you dread getting up for each day and seriously consider a future in sales. 

If you’ve already leaped into a sales career, I hope you’ll find the courage to elevate it by making intentional decisions about your next professional steps. Ask for the promotion you’re unsure you’re ready for, or consider leaving your current sales position or company for one that offers greater personal growth and financial potential.

A Sales Career Can Unlock Your Dreams

I want to help you leverage your sales career to buy that dream house, take a vacation without worrying about how you’ll pay it off long after the memories have started to fade, and see your kids graduate college debt-free, as my son did. 

All of this isn’t just for “natural salespeople.” It can be a reality for anyone willing to learn and do the work. You can sell your way into a life that is more professionally, emotionally, and financially rewarding—filled with possibilities and opportunities. I want everyone to have the life they want, and by choosing a career in sales, I know you can make that a reality.

Take the first—or next—step in your sales career with me on Sales Gravy University.

Kristie K. Jones is the go-to expert for SaaS companies wanting to build or scale their sales teams. Her 19+ years as a Sales Leader in the SaaS space fuel her passion for helping bootstrapped or VC-funded founders increase revenue through improved strategy, process, and people. Find her courses on The Top Ten Traits of Top Ten Percenters, The “Walkaway Point” Process, and more, on Sales Gravy University.