October 21st, 2008
Through The Eyes Of A Marketer
Keith Chaitoff is a marketing VP for a major health care corporation. When I was a VP of worldwide marketing for the same company, Keith was a marketing manager. He is an outstanding person and has a gift of curiously. Since his blog is about buying underwear, I will mention he has great courage as well.
Since my blog is blackinbusiness, I do not often write about white businesspeople, with a couple of exceptions. Let face it, if you are in business, marketing is an important part of doing business..
I remember prior to going to college, I had an older friend that was going to major in marketing. I did not know what marketing was; I asked my friend, what is the difference between sales and marketing? Now, decades later, I am still seeking the answer. This is from a man that has been a VP for both organizations; sales and marketing at one of America’s top companies. What do you guys think, how do you define the difference between sales and marketing.
Back to Keith, his blog post on buying underwear is of great humor but also teaches a compelling lesson. Maybe marketing is finding a way to get your product noticed in a world of increasing competition. Go visit this excellent post at, through the eyes of a marketer. Come back and let me know what you think. Mr. Chaitoff is one of the best marketers I had the pleasure to work with. He is also an expert in gardening and photography.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
Oh, I still have nightmares of my days as a store manager. Without good marketing, the sales won’t be good. You have to think about who your target consumer is. You don’t put the Milk of Magnesia on the bottom shelf, it goes at eye level where most seniors can find it. That’s marketing to promote sales.
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
KeeKee, thanks for your comment on marketing. That gives another insight, understand the needs of the customer. Your point about seniors helps make the point.
October 23rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Love your notion of the GIFT OF CURIOSITY. That too was Einstein’s gift and I see it modeled here much Jim! Thanks!
Yesterday I facilitated a roundtable with a circle of finance gurus and today I am still spinning with all they know!
It’s true — we impact one another as people in community!
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Jim, thanks for the great comments and support. To this day - after ~5 years of your being away from the company I am still with to start your own business - you are still a legend…the rings are still worn proudly! Now that’s leadership! And Larry says, “hi”!
October 24th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I started my working life as an Optician (Optometrist) - 14 years in practice… and if you had called me a Salesman, I’d have died of shame. I spent the next 25 years as Life Assurance Salesman - and I loved it. For me, marketing is about letting people know what you have or can do. Whereas, a sale is about finding out what people want and how you may fulfill their needs. In the end, people don’t care how much you know… they want to know how much you care.
October 24th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
HI Ellen, your wisdom is an inspiration and I am sure the money guys benefited. Thanks for the comment
October 24th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Keith, thanks for the visit and please give my love to all. Go ADD!
October 24th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Kevin, well said and congratulations for changing and doing great at another career! Thanks for your comment, needs indenifacation is what it is all about.
November 1st, 2008 at 7:51 am
Jim:
The difference between sales and marketing is interesting to me. They work together. It’s like fishing: marketing picks the lake, baits the hook, drops the lines… sales finds the right shadows, trolls, sets the hooks, reels in the fish, catches them in the net and makes sure they don’t go flipping out of the boat at the last minute!
I’m sure most customers wouldn’t want to be thought of as a fish… but the analogy is that marketing plans and prepares while sales takes action and interaction.
I asked this same question of my LinkedIn connections and got 54 different answers (see my blog: http://brandandmarket.com/52-answers-to-whats-the-difference-between-sales-and-marketing/ )
Chris Brown
Branding & Marketing blog
November 1st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Chris, your answer clears up this one for me. Thanks for keeping it real. I will check you out.