I Found a Cheaper Supplier: How I Responded

A typical career path: assistant, junior sales, senior sales, sales manager, export director, entrepreneur. At each stage, focus on different skills: processes early, client development mid-career, management later.

English is a tool, not the whole job. Clear written communication and basic conversation are sufficient. Product knowledge and communication skills matter more. Many top performers have average English but deep product expertise.

The transition from individual contributor to manager is the hardest step. You need to learn hiring, training, goal-setting, and team motivation. Start by mentoring 1-2 juniors before taking a full management role.