Newspapers, its not just battling the web, its the appalling management of salespeople.

My dear friend returned from time spent with his own business abroad for a few years, and decided to join his local newspaper as a salesperson. His target for his first month was £14,700 he brought in £22,000. They upped next month's target to £18,000 he brought in £20,000, they upped it to £19,000 he brought in £20,000. And this pattern continues, over his first six months he has generated over £20k a month in print advertising revenue. He predicts he will bring in close to a quarter of a million in his first 12 months. Except he won't be there for 12 months. Do you know what they pay him? £17,500 basic salary with a £200 OTE and 4% of anything else on top! Do I neeed to say anymore? This is insanity. They are soon to loose this tremendous consultative salesperson who is helping small businesses deliver compelling messages to their regional customers. The imbalance in the work he does and his financial reward is just moronic. Newspapers are so old and yet so young when it comes to being modern businesses and on the people development front - don't get me started.