In case you missed it, I’ve joined Marvik as VP of Strategic Accounts.
Yes, seriously! Sales is a helping profession about deeply understanding someone else’s problem and guiding them to a better outcome. What’s not to like?
Mike Weinberg puts it perfectly:
“Sales is a noble profession—when it’s done right.”
That line has stuck with me ever since I read it. It might sound surprising! We’re not used to hearing the word noble associated with sales. Quite the opposite, actually. Sales is often misunderstood. It’s seen as pushy, aggressive, or even manipulative. But is that really fair?
What is sales really about?
Sales is about service. Done right, it’s about helping people solve real problems they can’t solve on their own. It’s about asking the hard questions, understanding business pain, and guiding someone through uncertainty toward a better outcome.
This is especially true in complex B2B settings, where the stakes are high. Clients aren’t looking for a clever pitch or a closing technique judo. They’re looking for a partner: someone who can help them navigate risk, unlock value, and make good decisions in environments full of noise and ambiguity. They want great professionals to bring clarity, honesty and solutions.
More often than not, that professional is (or needs to act as) a salesperson.
Belief, responsibility, and the role of stewardship
Weinberg makes a strong point in his work: if you believe in your product or service, if you know it can help your client, then not selling it is a disservice. If you don’t speak up, they may end up stuck in inefficiency, or worse, choosing a solution that doesn’t solve their problem.
In this light, sales is no longer about persuasion: it’s about stewardship. It’s about caring enough to engage, to challenge, and to help clients make the best possible decisions.
That flips the whole narrative. It turns sales into something aspirational when were trying to open relationships and establish long-term partnerships, not just signed contracts. And when those relationships grow because it’s a win-win scenario, when the work starts making a real difference, when the client succeeds because of something you helped unlock—that’s when the nobility of sales becomes visible.
Conclusion
I’m really excited about this new chapter in my career as I’m eager to work new and existing relationships into successful projects for clients, where we can bring great value and tangible results to the table.
This time, not from the builder’s seat. But from a different place. One that’s just as strategic, just as impactful, and, yes… just as noble.
Juan Saavedra 