Quinn Interview Paper

I was able to Interview Professor Quinn in his Cottrell office Thursday September 28th. Aftering Interviewing Professor Larry Quinn about his career as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in the legal publishing division at THOMPSON Global a Global Macro investing and intelligence company I was able to get a greater understanding of a career in sales.

Quinn like many other young professionals had a different plan. He went to college and studied English with hopes of someday become a Priest, but in 1955 when the Vietnam War began he was called to duty. He enlisted in the Navy and became a pilot. Once the war ended a company called Xerox that sells document solutions and services, and document technology products was looking for new hires that understood technology and could communicate to customers. This was right up Quinn's allie, being an english major he had great communication skills and after his time in the Navy he acquired great technical skills. It was a perfect match. Quinn started by assisting a sales women at Xerox, explaining to customers how the product works. Soon Quinn was asked to step up and and take over her old account after his associates retirement. After a few years working with Xerox, Quinn changed it up and moved to THOMPSON Global where he quickly moved up the ladder and became Vice President of Sales and Marketing in the legal
publishing division. As Vice President of Sales and Marketing Quinn had to reach sales quota, keep THOMPSON Global brand prestesh and make sure that new hires were trained properly and clients were kept happy.

I asked Quinn what he believed his greatest failure had been during his time at THOMPSON Global.
He responded with a story, Quinn said “I became very self ritches” after an employee made a big mistake “I erupted, I called him out in front of the entire staff” Quinn goes on to tell me “I knew I was right and he know that I was right.” soon after this incident the man was fired for his mistake. Even though Quinn knew he was right, he also knew that was no way to have handled the situation. Quinn said “I was embarrassed by my actions, to call out an employee like that wasn't right and didn't make the situation
better.”

Next I asked Quinn what he believed his greatest success story was. He told me when he was halfway up the ladder at THOMPSON Global he had to fire a salesman that hadn't made quota in mouths. After meeting with him, Quinn wanted to give him another shot. Quinn began to go on sales calls with him, helping him perfect his sales skills. Three years later, he became salesman of the year. Quinn said “It was very rewarding to help someone in need and knowing that I had the power to do that.”

Quinn believes that a career in sales can be very promising “if you get in with the right company.” One has the potential to make extremely high earnings in sales, Your statice in the company is extremely important because your job means jobs for others. But because of this one must be worth of that position, being the first one in the office everyday and the last one to leave, as Quinn says it takes “dedication.”

As I began to rap up the interview I asked Quinn what his best advice would be for a college student starting out in the sales profession he responded by saying you never know what's going to happen. “To have expectations is to live in fear” Quinn said. Never be afraid of the unknown and always take risks.

After my time interviewing Larry Quinn I have found that a career in sales can be extremely rewarding but requires long hours, hard work and the right people skills. I can see myself in a sales position because I believe I have these characteristics. Coming out of this interview I have more confidence than ever in the career path that I have chosen.