Waiting for opportunity to knock

I had an "interview" the other day. Actually an invitation to join a group that is starting a company to sell CRM software and customization services to mid-size companies. I know the guy who is leading the effort and he has a good track record. They like my experience as application development project manager and IT relationships management. The team he has assembled is a good mix of young and wizened smart guys and the market for these products is hot.

If I was ten years younger, I would be delighted to have the chance to be part of the Leadership a successful enterprise, but at age 61, I am tired of striving, playing politics, shutting-up when the boss is clearly wrong, being told what to do and how to do it, bullshitting, being bullshitted, sitting in meetings, and wearing business clothes. (Ok. I still like to sling the bullshit, but not for political reasons).

So I am passing-up on the opportunity to be a founding member of the startup phase, mainly because the work in the initial stages consists of selling. I am a poor sales agent.

I am too much of a Buddhist:
I do not overcome objections, I accept them meekly and move on.
I do not ask for the order, I wait patiently for the prospect to make an intelligent decision in my favor and then call me with their requested quantities.
I hate to bother people when they are "busy".
( BTW: I find that most people who characterize themselves as "busy" are actually filling time with unimportant tasks to make themselves feel important)
I am intimidated when I meet business people who seem to be intelligent and thoughtful about their information needs. (ok, this is a rare event, but it happens)
When asked a question about a product's fitness for a particular purpose, I usually respond truthfully - which is a definite drawback in the sales profession.

I know about these things because I have slept with a salerep for many years. My wife has been a success selling everything from Electronic Potting Compounds to to Filing Cabinets to Payroll Services and Insurance. While remaining completely ethical, she is dogged and ruthless in pursuit of her prospect. She is convinced that they need her product, and she is deternmined to get the order. In short, her success is because of attributes that I lack.

I'm still in the market for a job, mind you. But I want one of those kushy gigs where you work for a successful publically-traded company with great benefits, big budgets, and big projects, high pay, low stress, interesting work, intelligent coworkers, progessive management, no heavy lifting.

I sit by the phone waiting for one of these opportunities to call. I should check the batteries; the damn thing hasn't rung in weeks.