You are right on the mark on the PI being a sales-man/woman/*. People forget how basically the purpose of a leader is to sell the product, and sell it hard. Th

You are right on the mark on the PI being a sales-man/woman/*. People forget how basically the purpose of a leader is to sell the product, and sell it hard. Think of a research group like any other business. You have to create a product and sell it, except the product is publications and publicity. Related, university presidents are fundraisers first, ie selling their nonprofit to donors, in exchange for buildings, chairs, spots on committees (for poors), fuzzie-wuzzies, etc.