These lies have kept capable women from even trying. Let's destroy them—one by one.
Before we start:
These myths aren't protecting you. They're just keeping you stuck.
Every single one of them is a lie. And by the end of this module, you'll see exactly why.
I believed every single one of these.
When I applied to my employer, I almost didn’t. Not because I didn’t want the job—because I was convinced I didn’t qualify. I thought sales was for a certain type of person. I was a new mom, running on fumes, working 13-hour shifts, applying to anything that might pay better. I didn’t think I was that person.
Every single myth in this module was running through my head. I’m walking through them because I’ve lived on the other side of all of them. And every single one is a lie.
The Lie:
You need years of sales experience, a business degree, or a proven track record before anyone will hire you. You need to "pay your dues" before you can make real money.
The Truth:
Most entry-level B2B sales roles don't require experience. They require coachability, work ethic, and the ability to learn fast. That's it.
Companies hiring SDRs (Sales Development Reps) and BDRs (Business Development Reps) know they're training you. They're not looking for seasoned professionals—they're looking for hungry, motivated people who can follow a system.
My Story:
When I applied to my employer, I had zero sales experience. I was coming from retail. I didn't know what B2B meant. I didn't have a business degree. I had absolutely nothing on paper that said "this person can sell."
But I had something more important: I was willing to learn, I showed up on time, and I asked good questions. That was enough.
Within four months, I was closing deals. Within a year, I was one of the top performers. Not because I had experience—but because I was coachable and consistent.
What Companies Actually Want:
Notice what's NOT on that list? A sales degree. Years of experience. A rolodex of contacts. None of that matters at the entry level.
The Lie:
Sales means being aggressive, manipulative, or "salesy." You'll have to pressure people into buying things they don't need. You'll feel sleazy.
The Truth:
Good sales isn't pushy. It's problem-solving. You're not convincing people to buy things they don't need—you're helping them solve problems they already have.
The best salespeople aren't aggressive. They're curious. They ask questions. They listen. They understand what the client actually needs—and then they offer a solution that makes sense.
My Story:
In my first few months at my company, I was terrified of being "pushy." I'd get on calls and immediately apologize for taking up their time. I'd soft-sell everything because I didn't want to seem aggressive.
But then I realized something: The clients who said yes weren't buying because I pressured them. They were buying because I asked good questions, understood their problem, and showed them a solution that actually made sense.
The moment I stopped worrying about being "pushy" and started focusing on being helpful, everything changed.
What Good Sales Actually Looks Like:
❌ Pushy Sales:
"You need this product. Let me tell you all the features. Here's why you should buy right now. What's stopping you?"
✅ Good Sales:
"Can you tell me a little bit more about your project or what you're experiencing? What's driving the need for this right now? What would success look like for you? Let me see if we can help."
Notice the difference? Good sales starts with questions, not pitches. It starts with understanding, not convincing.
The Lie:
Sales is for loud, outgoing, charismatic people who love being the center of attention. If you're introverted or prefer one-on-one conversations, you won't succeed.
The Truth:
Some of the best salespeople I know are introverts. Why? Because they listen more than they talk. They think before they speak. They build deeper, more genuine relationships because they're not performing—they're connecting.
B2B sales isn't about being the loudest person in the room. It's about being strategic, thoughtful, and genuinely interested in solving problems. Introverts excel at all of that.
My Story:
I'm not an extrovert. I'm somewhere in between. And I've closed deals ranging from five to seven figures—most of them entirely through email.
Here's what surprised me: B2B actually helped me network with people and companies I never expected to connect with. Hospitals, universities, government agencies, manufacturing plants—the relationships I've built span industries I didn't even know existed when I started.
B2B sales happens mostly over email, CRM systems, and scheduled calls. It's not cold-calling strangers all day. It's researching accounts, crafting thoughtful messages, and building relationships over time.
Introverts have an advantage here. We prefer depth over breadth. We'd rather have five meaningful conversations than fifty shallow ones. That's exactly what B2B sales rewards.
What B2B Sales Actually Looks Like Day-to-Day:
Notice what's NOT on that list? Networking events. Cold calling strangers. Being "on" all day. Most B2B sales happens behind a computer screen, which is perfect for introverts.
I know what you might be thinking. "Sure, Katherine, your story is great. But is it really the norm? Or were you just lucky?" Fair question. So let me hit you with some data. Because these myths don't just crumble under personal experience. They crumble under facts.
86%
of entry-level SDR hires don't have sales experience
Companies hiring SDRs and BDRs know they're training from scratch. They're looking for raw talent, not polished veterans. Your "lack of experience" is literally the norm for these roles.
Top 10%
of salespeople are usually the best listeners, not the loudest talkers
Research consistently shows that the highest-performing salespeople spend more time listening than pitching. Being quiet, thoughtful, and curious is an advantage, not a weakness.
60%+
of B2B sales work happens behind a screen
Email, CRM updates, research, proposals. The image of a salesperson "pounding the pavement" is decades outdated. Most modern sales is digital, methodical, and strategic.
3x
more remote sales jobs available now than five years ago
Remote sales roles have exploded. The opportunities aren't rare. They're everywhere. You just haven't been told where to look yet. That changes in Week 3.
Real Talk from Katherine:
I didn't have any of this data when I started. I just had a gut feeling that the myths were wrong, and a willingness to prove it. But seeing the numbers later confirmed what I already knew: these myths are not protecting you. They're lying to you. And the more you arm yourself with facts, the harder it becomes for fear to talk you out of trying.
Here's the sneaky thing about these myths. You won't always hear them as clear, loud thoughts. Sometimes they whisper. They show up as hesitation, as "maybe later," as the feeling that you should "do more research first" before even applying. Recognizing the myth when it's whispering is just as important as dismantling it intellectually.
The whisper of Myth 1 (I need experience first):
"I should probably take a course before I take a course." "Maybe I'll apply next month when I've prepared more." "I need to read more about sales before I'm ready."
The truth: You're ready now. Preparing to prepare is just fear wearing a productivity costume.
The whisper of Myth 2 (I'd be too pushy):
"I don't want to bother people." "What if they think I'm annoying?" "I'm not the type to push something on someone."
The truth: If your intention is to help, you're not being pushy. You're being of service. There's a massive difference.
The whisper of Myth 3 (I'm not extroverted enough):
"I'm too quiet for this." "I'm not the type who can just pick up the phone and talk to strangers." "I'd need to completely change my personality."
The truth: You don't need to change your personality. You need to find the sales style that matches it. And they exist.
I've talked to hiring managers, sales directors, and VPs of sales across multiple industries. Here's what they consistently say about what they're looking for. Spoiler: it's not what the myths tell you.
"I'd rather hire someone with zero experience who's coachable and hungry than someone with five years who thinks they already know everything. Give me the mom who's been managing chaos for years. She'll outwork anyone on my team within six months."
- Sales Director, SaaS Company
"The best reps on my team aren't the loudest. They're the ones who actually listen on calls. They ask follow-up questions instead of jumping to the pitch. That skill is really hard to teach, but some people just come with it naturally."
- VP of Sales, Healthcare Technology
"I look for people who can tell me about a time they handled a hard situation. I don't care if it happened at a corporate job or at a PTA meeting. Problem-solving is problem-solving. If you can navigate a room of frustrated parents, you can navigate a tough client call."
- Hiring Manager, B2B Distribution
Real Talk from Katherine:
These aren't made-up quotes to make you feel good. These are the real perspectives of people who hire for sales every day. They're not looking for a certain "type." They're looking for someone who's willing to learn, who won't give up after a bad day, and who can connect with another human being. That's it. And every single one of you reading this can do that.
These myths don’t disappear overnight.
You’ll read this module and feel like they’re gone. Then you’ll apply for a job, get nervous, and one of them will whisper back. That’s normal. That’s what fear does.
When that happens: come back to this module. Re-read the myth. Remind yourself that you already destroyed it once. Then apply anyway.
What you just learned shows up differently depending on which sales path you're exploring. Click your path to see how this applies to you specifically.
In B2B, Myth 1 ("I need experience first") is the most dangerous because it stops the most qualified people from even applying. B2B companies hiring for SDR and BDR roles know they're training you from scratch. They have onboarding programs, call scripts, mentors, and ramp periods specifically designed for people with zero sales background. The myth that you need experience is not just wrong, it's the opposite of how B2B hiring works.
Myth 3 ("I'm not extroverted enough") is also especially misleading for B2B. Most B2B sales is research-heavy, email-driven, and relationship-based over time. You're not walking into networking events and cold-pitching strangers. You're sending thoughtful emails, scheduling strategic calls, and building trust through consistency. Introverts don't just survive in B2B. They often thrive because the job rewards depth over volume.
B2B especially values the skills women already have: active listening, empathy, patience, and the ability to manage complex relationships. Studies show that female sales reps in B2B often outperform their male counterparts in client retention and upselling, precisely because they build stronger, more genuine relationships with their accounts.
So the next time one of these myths whispers at you, remember: B2B was practically designed for the skills you already bring. The myth says you don't belong. The data says you're exactly who they're looking for.
Before you move on, let's make sure the key concepts really clicked. Answer all questions correctly to unlock the next lesson.
1. What do most entry-level B2B sales roles actually require?
2. Good sales is best described as...
3. Research shows introverts in sales succeed because they...
4. What percentage of B2B sales work typically happens behind a computer screen?
5. When Katherine started in sales, what was her biggest qualification?
Complete the Knowledge Check above to unlock the next lesson.
Next Lesson