Do I Need a Degree to Sell Roofs?

By Mike Coday •  Updated: 03/29/21 •  2 min read

No!

Whoever came up with the college degree rule is probably some college degree idiot who wants to make themselves feel better about their over-priced education.

It is amazing how many sales managers and corporations believe that a college degree is the magic ingredient that guarantees success. It doesn’t.

If anything, I’ve found that the degree is a detriment when it comes to selling roofs.

I Won’t Apologize

I’m not going to apologize for this statement either. In every roofing company I’ve ever known, the guys without the degrees, outsell the guys with the degrees.

Are there exceptions? Sure, but show me at random 10 different roofing companies and I bet I’m right 90% of the time.

Why is it like that? I don’t know for sure, but that won’t stop me from sharing my opinion…

The college degree guy has somewhat of an entitlement mindset. He did his time at the university and now it is time for the universe to pay him back. He won’t ever come out and say this, but to some degree, that’s what he believes.

The guy without the college degree knows better… if anything good is going to happen, he’s got to make it happen. Nobody else is going to do it for him.

Bottom line, you don’t need a degree to sell shingles and felt… but you better have a whole ton of passion because that’s what it takes to make money selling roofs for a living.

Peace,
Mike

Mike Coday

Mike started selling roofs in '95 while working as a youth pastor at a small church in North Texas. A decade later he transitioned to speaking at industry conferences and training outside sales teams. Today, he works exclusively as the premier consultant to roofing company owners who are driven for growth.