I have heard it explained that "salespeople are the lifeblood of any company."  I have witnessed company cultures that celebrate the skill of "convincing" customers to purchase goods.  I have witnessed those same cultures then treat its engineers and creative-types as if they were second-class citizens.  My contention is that the creativity and ability to deliver is the "lifeblood" of a company.  Today I wish to speak to this and (hopefully) set the record straight.  This post is not a personal attack, nor is it indicative to any employer/company I might have ever been associated with.  This post is merely an observation that I feel is of the most critical importance when creating synergy inside of a company and within an industry.

Myth:  Good salespeople are more important than good engineers.

I have witnessed company cultures where this was a core (albeit unspoken) belief.  The misconception is that engineers are a "dime a dozen."  That you can always find another "technical" person.  Well, this is true of ALL employees, not just software developers.  Believe it or not, there are bad engineers out there.  I do not mean engineers that are evil (although I'm sure there are some of those as well).  I am speaking of engineers that create their own problems and do not have to ability to think in the long term.  I am speaking of engineers that, although talented in throwing "quick fix" solutions together, are unskilled or ambivalent when addressing viable, self-sustaining, and foundational  solutions.  I am speaking of developers who lack imagination, creativity, and passion.  Yes, true believer, there are those who have the mechanical skill to write the lines of code without ever taking time, or concern, to ponder the beauty of what they do.  You can liken this analogy to the lay-person that can perform arithmetic manipulation without ever understanding the beauty of mathematics.  Just as a calculator does not a mathematician make, so true it is of engineers.

Now, I am not naive (at least I hope overly naive).  I understand business and I understand that it takes money to keep the doors open, the lights on, and people fed.  I know that many businesses have sold "things" that do not exist.  I do not lack appreciation for the talents of skilled salespeople.  I admire a person that can persist, even in the face of repeated rejection, and continue to struggle on.  There is strength in this type of character.  There is pride and accomplishment when they triumph, on global AND personal levels.  I am grateful for those that wage those wars over dollars/euros/yen to allow me to continue to create.  But I beg you, do not make the mistake of thinking that your money, implies my servitude.  I would think that you would be happy to take care of me, for you are able to make 10x or 100x more than what you spend on me. 

It MUST be recognized that without my creativity, and the creativity of those of my kind, there would be nothing to sell.  At the end of the day, it is US that deliver, out of nothing, a product, service, or idea.  We are those whom Ayn Rand once called the "men of the mind."  We are the dreamers, yes, but we also have the power to make our dreams real.  Beyond us there are no progressions.  Without us there is nothing "new."  There are no improvements.  Yet, we are treated with disdain, and abhorrence by so many.  What then, I must ask, after the sale occurs, would you have when the day of delivery comes that you stand empty-handed in front of your customer?  A grateful and loyal client?  Or a stack of lawsuits?  This question is fundamental.  Its answer determines, not only the culture of a company, but also the culture of its clients.  In the world of software, there have always been those that sell "vapor-ware."  There are those that find no ethical violation in making empty promises, followed up by empty deliverables.  But there are those of US that DO take issue here.  As we continually work towards mastering our art, of perfecting our craft, to bear witness to those who lack our appreciation for beauty in the simplest line of brilliance.

How do you then say that WE are the ones that are "easily replaceable?"  How could you possibly think creativity, imagination, and wisdom are so trivial?  Would you say the same to Da Vinci, Riemann, or Picasso?  How many have tried to copy those that are the creative geniuses, only to find the fruits lifeless, cheap imitations?  No, true believer, I would think that the most perfected salesperson, would struggle to survive without the creative force behind them.  The creative force that is US.  How many time have you or your company been approached by Google salespeople trying to convince you of the value of their product?  Good software practically sells itself.  For when you have something that is solid... well built... your name becomes viral.  No, not viral as in "yuck you gave me herpes," but viral in the terms that practically "everyone" wants to help spread you.  One must only look to the success of Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to confirm this.   Perhaps a revolution is in order.  Perhaps a rethinking of priorities and an enlightenment of purpose... a redefinition of "citizenship" within the company.  Perhaps it is important for leadership, and those that claim to be leadership, to take note of the following thoughts:

    *There are times when we need each other
    *There are times when we don't need you.
    *But there will NEVER come a time when you don't need US.