Mastering Medical Sales: A Review of the Game-Changing Planner for Industry Pros
- Michael Browers
- Mar 28, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 13, 2024

In the fast-paced world of medical device and pharmaceutical sales, staying organized isn't just an option—it's a necessity. Enter the Medical Sales Planner: The "Big Blue Book", a thoughtfully designed tool tailored for the unique challenges faced by Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives. Developed by industry leaders, Alexander Frekey and Jameil Pendleton, each proponents of traditional account planning with a planner and pen/paper. This planner stands out as a beacon of organization in the tumultuous sea of sales. My acquisition of this planner was driven by a desire for a systematic approach to collaborate with my sales peers to manage the accounts within the product portfolio I oversee as a product manager, and upon arrival, its format immediately resonated with me.
Key Features That Shine:
Account Planner Section: The heart of this planner lies in its account management capabilities. Each page is a canvas for strategizing, allowing you to delineate top priorities, set clear goals and initiatives, outline quarterly objectives, and detail actions for each contact. It encourages a proactive approach by identifying advocates and adversaries within accounts, fostering a strategy to penetrate and influence effectively. This meticulous organization is the planner's crown jewel, reflecting a deep understanding of the sales process's nuances.
Notes Section: The inclusion of a notes section is a testament to the planner's versatility. This feature is immensely helpful for jotting down insights, reflections, and follow-ups while out in the field. It's a simple yet powerful addition that complements the detailed account planning pages, providing a holistic tool for managing sales responsibilities.
Personal Experience:
Having this Medical Sales Planner at my fingertips is game changing for me over a simple generic notebook. The distinct pages dedicated to each account, coupled with the notes section, are poised to streamline my planning and execution process from an account-based marketing perspective as I collaborate with my sales peers. Alexander Frekey's traditional approach resonates with me, affirming the value of pen-to-paper in crafting and executing sales strategies.
Areas Poised for Enhancement:
Despite its numerous strengths, there are minor areas where the planner could evolve. A spelling misstep in Alexander's introduction ("utlizes" instead of "utilizes") is a slight oversight, easily remediable in future editions. The calendar section, while well-intentioned, occupies space that could be repurposed for additional account planning or notes pages—especially for those of us who leverage digital tools for scheduling. Furthermore, optimizing the layout of the notes section by reducing the header size and adjusting the line spacing could augment its utility, allowing for more extensive note-taking.
Looking Forward to Future Iterations:
Overall, the Medical Sales Planner is a meticulously designed tool that significantly impacts sales strategy and management. Its thoughtful layout and features address the core needs of medical sales and marketing professionals, facilitating a level of organization and planning that is paramount in this industry. My minor critiques are intended as constructive feedback, aiming to refine an already outstanding tool. I eagerly anticipate the 2025 edition, confident that it will continue to evolve and better serve its users.
As a testament to its effectiveness and utility, I plan to remain a loyal customer, looking forward to integrating future editions of the Medical Sales Planner into my workflow. For fellow medical device and pharmaceutical sales and marketing professionals seeking to elevate their planning and execution, this planner is not just a tool but a game-changer.
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