Wanted to share my story and some advice for those of you in workplaces with a toxic culture. Sales and Selling |
- Wanted to share my story and some advice for those of you in workplaces with a toxic culture.
- Looking for a one-on-one mentor urgent asap please
- What do you think to this idea?
- Foodservice Sales Reps
- Account Manager interview presentation at a SaaS startup - Any tips?
- RFP Presentation tips?
- "With every interaction, you are either a value add or a time waster." -Anthony Iannarino
- Puchasing Managers and their irrational decision making process
- When do I give out my business cards?
- Rate the most usefull premium linkedin features
- Help/advice changing industries.
- My boss is letting us go before Christmas.
- ADP vs TQL?
- Fear of cold calling because I haven't memorized scripts
- A job to get my feet wet with little commitment
- Advice Please - Selling to Non-Profits
- Best channel for selling/marketing high end Hardwood Flooring?
| Wanted to share my story and some advice for those of you in workplaces with a toxic culture. Posted: 09 Dec 2018 11:18 AM PST Its a given in sales for sure, not sure how common it is but it happens and a good number of us in here have faced it at some point in our careers. I have received a few PMs about this sort of thing ever since I made that sticky post on Cyberrico's thread. The irony here is my situation actually bought me to this sub. Given all the value this sub has added to my life, I just had to give back. This past Friday, after being unemployed for a little over a month, I got my third job offer and I am in deciding mode. Best of all, I have a couple more interviews coming up this week with companies that I have long wanted to work for. I cannot say how these interviews will go but I can say that I feel a potential for great things on the horizon in 2019. I remember a year ago on this day I was sick and ill because of how toxic the work environment was. At the time I was doing an entry level Account Management type of role for a company that was a leader in it space so a great name to have on a resume for sure. Outside of the name though, the workplace culture was the most toxic I have experienced in my life and it was my first SaaS role out of college. Starting off, there was a lot of nepotism to where numbers were ignored and management played favorites. The favorites were based more on the kind of demographic they were a part of and lets just say I will leave it at that! I'd love to share the whole story but I don't want this thread to be a novel. Long story short, the management made you report to their favorites who threw you under the bus when convenient, made you do things that could affect your numbers and paycheck, made you attend team meetings and outings that consisted of gossiping or else you were seen as "not being a team player", gave unfair performance reviews, probed into your personal life and micromanaged majority of the team. At one point I had a coworker who was one of management's favorites look through my social media profiles and see pictures of me with my girlfriend. One of the AEs chatted with me at times and the coworker threatens me, saying that if I do not go to a team meeting she will tell my girlfriend that it is because I am having an affair with the AE.... At that point, for a period of four months I job hunted while pretending to care about these guys. So what did I do and what happened from there? I spent that time after work to better my social life and join supportive professional groups, really built up my network and strong relationships with recruiters. I quit my job without another one lined up, foolish to some but the toxic culture was destroying my mindset for interviews and I needed to take the time to find a new workplace. After a month of doing that, I come across my first SDR role making double what I made at my previous employer. Things are going well but for a month I miss quota, so along with 3 other SDRs I end up being let go. The workplace was not as toxic but the company was unstable and not doing well. After a month of job hunting, here I am, three offers on the table and almost all of them paying similar to my last role. At two, the managers have enjoyed speaking with me and interviews and one has outright said "tell me what I need to do to get you in". What about the toxic workplace I used to be at? Despite my experiences there, I did make some great friends on other teams. Slowly, a few more people started to leave the team realizing how toxic it was. I recently found through them that the company is shutting down their office in the city and moving operations to another city, the team I used to be a part of is going to be let go. As much as a part of me wants to think this is karma doing its work, I genuinely hope everyone else at that office gets back up on their feet and is doing well, have even pitched in to be a reference for them if needed. Most of all, what lessons did I learn? 1 - Use this as an excuse to improve yourself. Complacency is a killer in sales and my situation forced me to not be complacent by relying heavily on one employer. I came out even better after having survived the toxic environment. Now I have a stronger network of recruiters and professionals to work with. I reached out and found that there are such great opportunities out there that I am almost happy I ended up not being one of management's favorites. 2 - Use the situation as a way to take productive action. Instead of just crying about it, do things like taking some phone screens early in the morning with recruiters or during lunch time and after work. Actively research open opportunities and the companies you would love to work at, have something to say in those interviews. Every time you get mad at the nonsense, use it as fuel to look for better opportunities. 3 - Build up your social life outside of work. Intramural sports, church groups and the list can go on and on. I know that there is a whole crowd out there saying social life is supposed to suck after college, it is not. If you put in the effort and actually try to meet people through hobbies and groups, you will find a lot of amazing friendships to help get you through tough times. Out of coincidence, you never know if you stumble across a job opportunity through this. 4 - Use it as a learning experience instead of a curse. I used to hate my situation and the kinds of people I had to encounter at my old workplace but I used it as a learning experience. The reason some of my coworkers who managed to be the management's favorites were the way they were is because like management, their personal lives were often a mess and they were unfulfilled in what they did, leading them to gossip a lot. Realize that terrible people often live terrible lives and have had some terrible things happen to them, at times out of no fault of their own but after a while as a result of their habits. 5 - You might not believe it but you have some serious options! I used to think I needed two years in my first SaaS role out of college for companies to consider me but I realized after a year there were more recruiters reaching out. At times I came across some decent roles and found that there is a market for salespeople in SaaS and many places you can find a great fit. Even despite my less than typical resume, I am fortunate to be sitting at multiple job offers with more to come and I believe my next place has the potential to be amazing. [link] [comments]  |
| Looking for a one-on-one mentor urgent asap please Posted: 09 Dec 2018 07:23 AM PST I am really struggling with kicking off my sales career and I am facing pressure from my boyfriend to quit my sales job because I'm not making any money (it's commission-based). Before, it was because I wasn't motivated so I wasn't working as hard as I should. However, that's changed and I want to do as best as I can as soon as possible. I am time and money pressured though. Plus, I lack the experience. So far, I have to reach out to people in my personal network since I don't have any lists and that's what my job recommends, and I feel like these people are losing trust in me because I don't sound too confident or great with the scripts. If there is anybody on here who could help me rehearse the scripts, give me advice and direction, and walk me through things until I can stand on my own, I would greatly appreciate it. So much. Please help. I really want to do well and I think this could be a great future for me. Thank you. [link] [comments]  |
| What do you think to this idea? Posted: 09 Dec 2018 08:17 AM PST I'm passionate about mental health however I don't believe I have the intelligence or the temperament to become a psychotherapist. My particular skill set is in sales. I've had this idea. What do you think to a free magazine all about mental health placed in GP surgeries. The way I could make some money is by advertising local therapists/mental health charities who would go through some sort of "credibility check" process for example we verify thier qualifications or we talk to a few former clients. The therapists obviously pay for the adverts. What do you think to this idea? It doesn't have to be a magazine I'm also open to doing YouTube videos etc I would love to hear your opinions! [link] [comments]  |
| Posted: 09 Dec 2018 12:01 PM PST I can't be the only one here. Who do you work for? What do you do in sales weekly? As the industry moves towards a more volume over sales approach, how are you adapting? [link] [comments]  |
| Account Manager interview presentation at a SaaS startup - Any tips? Posted: 09 Dec 2018 11:50 AM PST Hi All, I have an upcoming AM interview presentation at a SaaS startup. These guys basically pitch their payment solution product to other startups to make payments easy for them. Have been asked to give a 10 to 15min presentation about why I would be a good fit for the role, how I would standout compared to others. The role itself is mainly about account/client management with some limited 'soft" upselling needed. Not a typical hard charging sales AM type thingy. Any tips on how to go about this? I have previous business development, pre-sales and post-sales training/support experience but was never a full time AM. Appreciate your help in advance. Thanks! [link] [comments]  |
| Posted: 09 Dec 2018 09:40 AM PST Hey guys and gals, looking for some quick tips & tricks for an RFP presentation I have to do this week. It's an hour presentation then 30 min Q&A. We know we're going up against one other competitor. Fundamentally I despise "presentations" but within the confines of an RFP response, I was wondering what the best way to approach this would be. I feel less is more and that we don't necessarily have to take the full hour just for the sake of taking the full hour. I was thinking quickly address their needs as outlined in the RFP. Then our process to deliver. Then have the experts on my side actually walk through the deliverables. Then the CEO talk about our company as a whole. Boom done. Does anyone have any good successful experiences actually presenting an RFP response? Thanks! [link] [comments]  |
| "With every interaction, you are either a value add or a time waster." -Anthony Iannarino Posted: 08 Dec 2018 08:09 PM PST I've been reading, The Only Sales Guild You'll Every Need, by Anthony Iannario and this quote really stuck out to me. No more calling "just to check in" because everything is always just fine and dandy. Call and email for a reason that can actually add value. It can be tough to find it, but you'll get wayyy more responses then just checking in. I call with a specific product update or a change in the market. Also, look for press releases or current news on the company. B2B sales for me. What are some tactics you use besides, checking in? [link] [comments]  |
| Puchasing Managers and their irrational decision making process Posted: 09 Dec 2018 09:09 AM PST As we all know, Purchasing Managers believe they are rational, value based decision makers that act in the best interest of their company. And the moment you get into sales you realize how emotionally driven and ego driven purchasing managers are. They do not make rational decisions at all and they unfortunately are put into a situation where they are gas-lighted on a regular basis and have no conception of what is good for their company. Purchasing Managers end up making terrible decisions and it is up to us, salespeople, to break through the noise and bring them clarity on the value of what we offer, and what they need to be aware of in the industry. Having said that, just getting in front of them to be able to get your message through is a challenge. Gatekeepers, Call screening, and flaky presence at trade shows are just a small sample of their tactics. What are some of the ways you've been able to get your voice heard from the Purchasing Manager? [link] [comments]  |
| When do I give out my business cards? Posted: 09 Dec 2018 03:53 AM PST Do I need to give out my business cards at the end of a meeting with them? If it's our first meeting? I see my coworkers do this but I don't see the point in doing this. I am finding my clients through networking events and LinkedIn. My coworkers come along with me during the meeting but they only met the client through me (I am a newbie so I need people to come to meetings with me). Are there other contexts that I should keep in mind for when I give out my business card? [link] [comments]  |
| Rate the most usefull premium linkedin features Posted: 09 Dec 2018 03:48 AM PST Which linkedin features you pay for and find most usefull? [link] [comments]  |
| Help/advice changing industries. Posted: 08 Dec 2018 11:05 PM PST I am trying to change industries and I honestly don't know where to start. Any advice would be awesome. I'm like Ricky Bobby, " I don't know what to do with my hands." Lol Cliff notes background; 8 years ago I co-founded one of my first companies and later started a couple of my own. They were all successful and I just recently sold out my remaining stake in my last company in July. So I am incredibly diversified as to how businesses functions on every level. I just so happened to have a natural talent for sales and networking. So I always headed that department on my own and hired out all the other positions. Also, I absolutely love it. It is like a puzzle. To me "no, just means no not right now". I am relentless and I will find a way to get my foot in the door. Once I get my foot in the door of a company it's games over. As the title said I've been in sales mainly oil-field rentals, trucking...pretty much everything. I owned a brokerage company and middle manned anything I could make 30% on. I've also sold to huge construction contractors and highway contractors. I'm not trying to brag but I am very good at what I do. My favorite story is renting a helicopter to a guy I never met from a helicopter company I had never dealt with and never saw the helicopter or met the guy. I got paid though. However, I got burned out. I've spent 10 years in an all men's industry (other than your secretaries, whom I find ways around at all cost) but once a deal is closed I'm dealing with the superintendents. Rain, snow, emergency calls Christmas Eve. I want a change so bad I can't stand it. So I said screw it and started applying to jobs that I think would be fun or challenging as well as just bs that, if all else fails, will get me closer to the industry. I have had quite a few over the phone interviews, a few second phone interviews and now I have a couple companies wanting me to fly out for the in-person interview. The one that catches my attention the most is Link Advantage. They have a great rating on glass door and I think it is a step towards my ultimate goal of SaaS sales or Strategic Business Manager, just in the tech industry or even the fringes. I understand as an employer the hesitancy to hire an oilfield salesman as an IT, cloud computing...he'll anything computing salesman. There is a little stigma that we are all rednecks. I can read a little python, build robots, with my son. I'm not tech dumb and I can learn anything. That's why god made google, but to be honest the crossover scares me a little. I own 1 pair of slacks that I have had to wear maybe 6 times in 8 years when I had to go to major oil companies headquarters and give a presentation to their CFO's, DOO'S, head purchasing managers and occasionally a CEO, explaining how I could save them money while at the same time land myself a million dollar contract. I felt like a fish out of water but I wanted to grow legs. So I am. And planning to use those legs or move to the Greater Denver area. I know myself, so I know if I can get even into the fringes of the market that if I want to be in I can network my way to where I want to be over the course of a year or so. While furthering my knowledge as well as prove I can blow away other companies sales goals. Not only ones set by myself or my investors. Here is where I would love any advice. Be brutal. Be honest. Financially I can take my time accepting a position. Remember oilfield. 120 hour weeks, averaging over 100 phone calls a day 7 days a week on my work cell alone. I am relentless. I do not quit. I just need somebody to help point me in the right direction and what to expect. Is anyone in the Denver Aurora area or heard of Link Advantage inc? They seem to have a good rating on glass door. Looks like high turnover but not a lot of people can handle constant rejection and look at it as an obstacle not a brick wall and it can be disheartening every once in a while. You need thick skin and self-reassurance otherwise sales of any kind will chew you up and spit you out. So my question is is a company like Link Advantage a good place to start or am I showing my true ignorance to the industry? If it isn't what should I be looking for and where? TL;DR 8 years in sales, now trying to change industries as different as night and day. [link] [comments]  |
| My boss is letting us go before Christmas. Posted: 08 Dec 2018 01:04 PM PST This is my first sales position (insurance) at a captive agency. Training was all over the place and not very helpful. Our word tracks are lame and don't let us build relationships very well, and for the most part, we don't beat our competitor's prices. I've exhausted all of the resources I'm offered. I've called sales support on multiple occasions and I have a weekly call with a coach. All of our business is new business as we started with no book. My boss told her top three producers that if we don't each sell at least x amount of this certain policy in the next two weeks, we will be let go. I truly feel that we are not bad employees. Our territory as a whole has done badly for November and December. I want to blame the lack of training and support before I blame the team. I was promoted to office manager last month, and this month I'm getting canned. Right before Christmas. Would an independent agency be the next best move? [link] [comments]  |
| Posted: 08 Dec 2018 05:33 PM PST For a first time sales job in terms of pay, work environment, room for growth, etc? [link] [comments]  |
| Fear of cold calling because I haven't memorized scripts Posted: 08 Dec 2018 01:52 PM PST I have been stalling from making calls because I feel like I don't have the scripts down. But I keep procrastinating on practicing the scripts because I feel like I have to learn about my industry (insurance and financial planning). But then I feel like I'm not making enough calls to make money and on and on... just a bad cycle. I don't know how to get out of it. How much of my time should I be making calls? What if I don't know the scripts? Should I make sure I've memorized the scripts (and there are so many scripts online about how to reach out and respond to objections; it's overwhelming for me) and then make calls? Or not be afraid and learn along the way? But what if I lose valuable prospects? How much of my time should be about learning about the products? I feel like that plays a huge role in how to manage the actual meeting with them. I am just overwhelmed and disorganized. I greatly appreciate your input. Thank you very much for your help. [link] [comments]  |
| A job to get my feet wet with little commitment Posted: 08 Dec 2018 02:46 PM PST I have been working at Starbucks as a barista for the past 2 years. I am turning 19 years old in January. Sales has always been something that has interested me. I feel as if I would enjoy the fast-paced environment because my job is already very fast-paced. I want to try my hand at sales but I don't want to fully commit. I am currently attending college for free through one of Starbucks' program. I was wondering if there were any type of jobs that could get my feet wet, with very little commitment. It should be noted that my schedule at work is all over the place. I figure that if I get any job, it will be purely commission based. Thank you! [link] [comments]  |
| Advice Please - Selling to Non-Profits Posted: 08 Dec 2018 02:08 PM PST Hello r/sales! Long time lurker on older account. Have seen some solid advice on here, so hoping someone might have some insights for me. Thanks in advance for your time and thoughts. tldr: how is selling to non-profits different to selling to other types of buyers? what should I be taking into account? full: I'm going to be starting selling consulting services to non-profits involved in disaster relief. Working for very small company and I'll be responsible for generating my own lists and pushing them through the whole pipeline. It's fairly expensive consulting with packages that start at around 6-8k USD and custom engagements that can easily be in the tens of thousands. The company does some pretty technical legal stuff that saves these non-profits loads of time and money in the long run. Wondering if anyone has any advice for selling to non-profits in particular? Previous advice I have had encouraged taking into account longer buying cycles (which may, e.g., involve having to get board approval for big purchases) and driving home the time-saving outcome of the service, as NPs tend to see time as their most valuable and most stretched resource. Anyone here had experience selling to non-profits? What did you find to be the biggest challenge? How did you see NP decision maker thinking being different to e.g. a corporate DM? Is the buying process really all that different? Thanks everyone. Looking forward to reading your comments. [link] [comments]  |
| Best channel for selling/marketing high end Hardwood Flooring? Posted: 08 Dec 2018 03:32 PM PST 6'3 215lbs Long time follower, first time poster. For the past 3 years I have worked for a small food distribution company. We sold fruits, veggies, meat, seafood to restaurants. I absolutely loved the job and was the #1 sales person in the company doing about 50k in sales per month. Company wasn't managed well however and after 5 years the company shut down yesterday. Luckily I saw it coming from a mile away and began planting seeds for employment after the company tanked. Got an offer about 1 year ago from a local business owner I know who manufactures custom hardwood flooring. He told me he wanted me to sell for him on a 100% commission structure. I told him I would do some on the side but had a full time I was riding out. Didn't pursue it as much as I would have liked to but did have a buddy in the construction industry who was able to get me a fairly large deal which paid me about 19k commission. I plan to build on this relationship but he is in the commercial industry and it was actually kind of miracle that his customer decided to buy our highly priced flooring. Luckily as hell for me. Got a decent severance from my company when they shut the doors, and from my commission on the one flooring job I landed I have a decent cushion to take a risk. I'm diving in full force to the job selling hardwood flooring, but have a few questions to any out there with similar experience. The flooring we produce is manufactured at a local plant from round logs all the way to plank floors, it is a very high priced product compared to big box company flooring. Fortunately I live in an area filled with wealthy folks. Questions:
If anyone has any experience in this industry please PM or comment it would be greatly appreciated!! [link] [comments]  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Sales and Selling. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment