They say that marketing as we know it started in the 70’s.  I would not know – I was too busy trying to maintain passing grades in school in those days. The first time I was introduced to marketing was in late 80’s when my VP of Sales gave me, a Regional Sales Manager, an old copy of “Principles of Marketing” by Philip Kotler.  Read it he said and tell me how you can improve your numbers. And improve they did – not just the top line but the bottom line too.