> "especially the idea of "not being able to concisely explain what you actually do." > I wonder if you could expand on that?" This is really selling. And it'

> "especially the idea of "not being able to concisely explain what you actually do." > I wonder if you could expand on that?" This is really selling. And it's something that comes in handy in business in every situation. If you can't concisely explain what your product can do for someone (either in person or in print) through marketing or salesmanship you won't make the sale unless you have some overwhelming advantage in some other area that holds people's interest (or little competition or maybe a super low price). Obviously in a HN comment there is no way to get into explaining how to be a good sales person in a few sentences. And while I could suggest books [1] the truth is you either have to have some experience and/or you have to be a "born" salesman. Or both. Edit: [1] I don't mean "I" could suggest specific books. Because I've never read books on sales. But I have closed large and small deals, against formidable opponents (right out of college, an example is trained IBM sales people) and I never read a single book on sales. But I do know there are books that can be purchased on selling and sales obviously.