Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jaron Erickson, Founder of Sales Dojo, located in Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Dojo helps individuals from all walks of life quickly learn the skills needed to become top-performing sales representatives at high-growth companies. Graduates from Dojo's SDR training course are equipped with the essential skills needed to make an immediate impact on the companies that hire them. We work with our graduates to help place them at partner companies in high-demand industries where there is significant growth potential financially and personally.
Sales roles within companies are often among the highest-paying and most lucrative. Even entry-level sales positions often pay 30-40% more than general admin or operation roles. Our goal at Dojo is not only to help you get a great job in sales at a great company but to prepare you to become one of the top performers, which will open up limitless opportunities for your future.
Tell us about yourself
Like many after high school, I followed the common path of going to college and was a collegiate track & field athlete and student at Utah Valley University (UVU) for two years. Through it all, I felt like something wasn't right. I hit a point where I didn't know what I wanted to do long-term. I didn't know what to do with my career, and I didn't even know what I wanted to study.
I decided to talk things through with my dad, Jeff Erickson, who worked for Carta at the time and encouraged me to look into working for a tech company. I'm not really a "computer guy" (which I realized you don't have to be to work in tech), but I decided to apply to the top tech companies in Utah and ended up getting a job as an entry-level SDR with Divvy. After one year, I was promoted four different times. I don't think it's because I was anything super special - it was in large part because the company started growing, and they brought in more and more people, and I had this natural push up the ladder.
I ended up leaving Divvy after their $2.5 billion Bill.com acquisition to go back to school, but I kept wondering why people weren't pursuing SDR careers and why it wasn't taught in college. I saw that my dad was in tech for a large portion of his life, and yet, I had still never heard of this career path. I decided to do something about it and started Dojo, a sales training course teaching individuals how to become top-performing SDRs and connecting them with some of the best tech companies across the country.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been playing a part in helping build a community & company around helping individuals become the best versions of themselves and having access to better career paths. I truly believe business is about serving as many people as possible - building Dojo has amplified this mission in allowing us to touch more & more lives.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part of being a business owner is staying focused on the positives instead of the negatives. When you run a company, there is always something more you can do or something that you can improve upon. I try to make a conscious effort to recognize these needs while also taking time to reflect upon the good we have done and the lives we have changed. This is what is most important!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Strive to overcome the fear of failure. Just go for it and see what happens.
- Be willing to take imperfect action. You will never be adequately prepared in all aspects of starting a company, but as you choose to move forward and act, you will learn along the way.
- Build a network of people who care about you and your company's mission. So much of our success has come through a community of people who also want to give back and help others.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.salesdojo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dojosalestraining
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dojosalestraining/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaron-erickson-💯-45a5a0173/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.
