If you are going to be the founder of your startup, it is critical that you learn sales. It is a skill you must have as a founder. Sales people are independent contractors and they can be hard to manage. They can also make a lot of money. They are a part of your team. You have to be able to lay out the vision for your company and have the knowledge of how to convince people that they want what you are selling. Sales is often thought of as the dirty job, but it’s every bit as important as the other elements of a business. Without a sustainable revenue stream, you won’t get far. You should be prepared to conduct sales activities in your startup from day one, including cold calling, emailing, and inbound leads. Entrepreneurs often get in their own way when it comes to sales. They’re afraid of making the first call or they stop themselves from following up because they’re too busy. Or they think that since their product is great and solves a problem, it will sell itself. Learn about how to dispell these myths and many others from Asia Gladden and figure out what you should really be focused on instead.