[PaulHoule]

There is "sales" and "business development"; these overlap but they are different.

In "sales" you have a playbook that at least seems to work. The reason I say "seems" is that the real metric that matters is lifetime customer value -- you could be making a lot of sales but not a lot of profit in the long term, not have a clear understanding of what is happening, and then find yourself in a great deal of pain later.

"Sales" is an optimization problem of taking something that works and making it better.

"Business Development" is entirely different. If you succeed at that you write the playbook, get big commissions, buy some nice suits and a nice car, get a "VP of Sales" position. A lot of people don't succeed at it.

[this-ali]

I have been struggling to differentiate "Sales" and "Business development". I always assumed they both to be same

> you could be making a lot of sales but not a lot of profit in the long term

This line made the difference very clear for me.

Right now I find Sales development much cooler than sales. I can actually feel the weight people with this title carry.

I think I can modify this Mindmap with the new insights that you've provided here. Thanks Paul