Brent Adamson

I was just reminded that this week marks the 10-year anniversary of the publication of The Challenger Sale. Crazy!

To everyone around the world—thousands and thousands of people—who have been in any way involved with this crazy journey, influenced by it, or are otherwise connected to it, I raise my glass to all of you! I am so deeply humbled by the positive impact this work has had.

And especially to Matt Dixon, Karen Freeman, and Timur Hicyilmaz. There from the very very beginning in 2008(!). Three of the best colleagues in research I could ever hope for.

So much love and respect for the entire Challenger community, worldwide!

If you’re willing, I’d love for you to share your Challenger story below!

#challenger #challengersale

After nearly 19 years, yesterday was my last day at #CEB, now #Gartner. Feels like the blink of an eye.

I'd imagine, for the three or four of you who might actually be interested, you're wondering... where to next? And more on that very soon. It's very cool.

But for today, just a very personal post. I find myself in a reflective, nostalgic mood. We've all done so much together across 2 decades, built so many insights, created so many lasting relationships, changed so many companies, and even individual lives. Lives of people I've never even met. It's almost overwhelming--the sense of humility, gratitude, responsibility, community.

I originally left academics because I wanted to have a true, meaningful impact on the “real“ world. And 19 years later, I think I can say with a huge dose of awe for *everyone* who's been involved on this journey, mission accomplished. Wow. To have had the opportunity to work with all of you as colleagues, as clients, as partners, and ultimately as friends leaves me at a near loss of words as I step back and take it all in.

I'm about to tag a bazillion people in comments below (I've got a four-page long list in front of me--hopefully this works and doesn't get me banned from LinkedIn!). As I've traveled back across the years in my mind I've tried to capture as many of you as I can in my mind's eye and offer an unspoken head-nod of thanks. Thank you all for being a part of my journey, and helping me put a small, but hopefully meaningful dent in the side of the universe.

From Barry Winer who took the risk in the first place to hire a German professor(!) to do sales research, to Tim Pollard who saw a speaker and writer in me, to Shirley Schumacher, the very first head of sales I ever met (I was terrified) and who ultimately became a dear friend. To my dear friend Eric Braun, one of the smartest, most logical yet compassionate researchers I've ever known, to Matt Dixon who responded with “I agree“ when I told him I thought we should write a book, to Molly Maycock who gave me the room to do what I do, but set me straight when wandered off course.

So, so many others. There are deep, meaningful memories associated with every single person laid out on these pages in front of me. And to all the clients. Thousands of them, who've become dear friends, mentors, coaches, partners. To all of you. All the thousands I've never met, but whom our work has touched.

I just wanted to say Thank You. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

...and I'm not done yet. We're just getting started. Promise.