Great concepts here on planning & executing a sales attack, New Sales Simplified by Mike Weinberg > http://www.amazon.com/New-Sales-Simplified-Prospecting-Devel...

I was in sales for 10+ years, now am a dev. Best sales book I ever read was New Sales Simplified. Really breaks down the sales process.

> how can I land myself that role?

Consider that there is a Senior Sales Executive out there today that you have knowledge & expertise to help. Suggest reaching out to Diretors & SVPs of Sales in the SaaS space. Linkedin is a good place to find them. Now gather intel and network. You must talk to these guys, the more, the better.

Incidentally, start reading up on the sales process. Recommend reading The Challenger Sale by Adamson and New Sales Simplified by Weinberg.

I just finished New Sales Simplified:

http://www.amazon.com/New-Sales-Simplified-Prospecting-Devel...

If you are responsible for getting new business, it is probably the best sales book I have read. Walks through defining your target customers, creating appropriate messaging to reach out to those customers and how to structure discovery and presentation calls.

This reminds me of a book I read recently called “New Sales. Simplified.” by Mike Weinberg, in terms of engaging with people on their terms and the “sales story”, highly recommended, and he narrates it himself on Audible. Very approachable for non-sales people but also refreshingly “back to basics” for those with sales exposure especially if wanting to focus on new sales acquisitions rather than just repeat customers.

> I don't know how to sell myself, ... could very much use help putting together a plan

The simple, direct approach is look for senior executives/managers WHO you know how to help. Linkedin's advance search feature is a great tool to source target prospects.

Suggest reading Mike Weinberg's New Sales Simplified, specifically - Chapter 14: Planning & Executing the Attack, helpful in your job search. > http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15863998-new-sales-simpli...

There have been several worthy recommendations in this string. Keep in mind, the more you read-- the more data you compile and master the subject. Here are a couple not already mentioned--

The best book I've read in ages on prospecting and business development, New Sales, Simplified by Mike Weinberg. If you read nothing else, Chapter 14: Planning & Executing the Attack is pure protein! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15863998-new-sales-simpli...

Here's a video presentation by Matt Dixon on The Challenger Sale. It's a bit long, just over an hour. But give it 15 minutes-- you'll see it's solid material. Good insights on how marketing supports & equips sales. Read the book!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSfE8zZUoMc

Leaders in Sales Training vary widely by industry & business models. A few to consider -

- Miller Heiman is the Corporate America Gold Standard, now incorporating SPIN Selling > https://www.millerheimangroup.com/huthwaite/

- The Challenger Sale by CEB Group is strong, geared toward large enterprise, complex scenarios > https://www.hirevue.com/offer/sales-training-companies-corpo...

Challenger Sale - is based on the brilliant insights of Matt Dixon > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSfE8zZUoMc

- Mike Weinberg is probably the most accessable and useful to a wide range of SMB companies, he's quite good! And his 'New Sales. Simplified' book is a Must Read > http://www.newsalescoach.com/services/

It depends on which part of sales you want to focus on. I've yet to find a good book which covers the discipline as a whole. Many seem to either focus on the psychology, prospecting or just closing of sales.

I'm part way through "New Sales. Simplified" which seems heavily based on "prospecting" which a lot of books seem to neglect. I've also got Dan Pink's "To Sell is Human" lined up next which is more about the psychological aspects. Many of the classic sales books by Zig Ziglar or Brian Tracy seem, IMO, to be more closing focused.