What comes to mind when you think about a “professional” career?

Many people will think of professional athletes or musicians. Others might picture doctors, lawyers, or politicians. All too often, the “professional” label is reserved for people in prestigious occupations or the lucky few who possess extraordinary talents.

It’s as if being called a professional is something meant only for those jobs — the glamorous, high-profile ones.

But here’s the truth: All jobs are professional jobs.

It’s not the job title or industry that makes the work professional. Rather, it’s the mindset of doing our job, whatever it may be, with excellence and purpose. It’s about rolling up our sleeves every day with a strong desire to create value by serving customers to the best of our ability. It means continually mastering and improving our craft.

Look closely, and you’ll find these same qualities in distributors everywhere.

Wholesale distribution might be the biggest industry that nobody knows about. And yet, outside our industry, few people understand what we do – or the professionalism it takes to do it well.

A Career Hiding in Plain Sight

According to the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), our industry moves over one-third of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product – representing $8.2 trillion in economic activity and employing over six million workers.

That’s no small operation.

It’s a hardworking and professional industry that is the silent backbone of our economy. Every product on a store shelf, every part in an HVAC system, every bolt in a construction site – it passed through the hands of a distributor.

All too often, most professionals in our space didn’t “pick” distribution.

We found it – or it found us.

Regardless of how we got here, what many of us discovered is a career that offers more than just selling and moving boxes. We’ve had an opportunity to build lasting relationships with customers and suppliers. We know that their organizations thrive because of our efforts. Every day, we manage complex supply chains and implement technology systems that are increasingly rivaling those of Fortune 500 companies. And we do it all with little fanfare.

It may not be glamorous, but it’s real – and it’s rewarding.

Professionalism in Every Role

One of the greatest myths about wholesale distribution is that it’s a blue-collar industry with limited sophistication.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Our organizations are filled with highly skilled professionals who take great pride in delivering excellent service to the markets we serve.

Sure, it’s still common to see distributors who have dark and dusty warehouses with boxes piled high. But increasingly often, those same warehouses are turning into clean and well-organized workspaces with advanced automation systems. Warehouse managers and their teams are constantly modernizing workflows, while creating substantial efficiencies that support sales and profitability growth.

Distributor salespeople have also made huge strides in transitioning from being order-takers to trusted advisors. Every day, sales counters and inside sales teams are lined with professionals solving complex problems and providing customers with much technical expertise needed. In the field, outside salespeople are leveraging CRM and AI platforms with real-time data to help give customers relevant information for making purchasing decisions.

Purchasing teams have become increasingly resilient by applying advanced inventory management and forecasting tools to help navigate supply chain disruptions. As supply chains are becoming more complex, they are quickly turning into strategic negotiators and agile problem solvers.

Distributors also have phenomenal people who are making great strides in the areas of finance, marketing, analytics, and pricing.

Every job in our industry has its own unique set of exciting opportunities and challenges.

Pull back the curtain – and you’ll find an abundance of talented professionals who are up to the task.

Upward Mobility in a Down-to-Earth Industry

Those of us who’ve built careers in wholesale distribution know that there are countless opportunities in our industry for people who approach their work with a high level of professionalism.

It’s the key difference between standing still and moving forward.

We’ve seen people who started in the warehouse or at the sales counter that are now leading teams. Many have even risen to senior executive roles in operations, sales, and supply chain. Often, without holding a fancy degree or high-profile resume.

How did they do it?

They showed up every day with a focus on professional appearance, professional behavior, and professional mastery. They focused on the details. They learned from mistakes. They invested in relationships. They took ownership and responsibility for their job – no matter what the job title might be.

One of the biggest advantages of working in wholesale distribution is that it’s open to a wide variety of people with many different backgrounds, skillsets, education, and work experience.

We offer a career within reach of anyone.

There’s only one real prerequisite for success – a professional work ethic.

Let’s Change the Narrative

To every rising star or industry veteran in wholesale distribution: you have every reason to take pride in what you do.

We may not design or make the products we distribute into the marketplace, but we are the critical link between those who do and those who need them.

So, let’s continue to represent our industry with excellence in every way possible. Let’s make sure that the next generation of professionals coming into our industry will have confidence that this is, in fact, a career worth choosing.

Our industry has many great stories to tell, and we all must do our part to tell them. Each time we share our story with the world or mentor someone new, we take part in shifting the perception. The message should be loud and clear.

Wholesale distribution isn’t just a job – it’s a profession.