Sales is starting to grate on me

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
09/16/2013 at 18:50 • Filed to: None

I'm just not sure it's for me...

DISCUSSION (14)

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 18:57

Sales is a rough way to make a living in my opinion, especially if it invovles cold-calling or trying to sell to someone who isn't actively seeking out the product you're selling.

Tom McParland > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 19:06

What kind of sales?

deadpedal > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 19:08

I say this as gently as possible. I once had a friend remark about a sales-lifer we'd just run across..."He's a great salesman, which may not be a compliment."

It's a tricky trade. Gotta be good with people. Unfortunately, that leads people to being good "with" people, not good "to" people. I think the weirdness comes from feeling phony as a person. The best salespeople are just awesome. The second-best salespeople always seem to be the worst kind of people.

I feel for you. Shit's a tough grind. Unless you're really good, then it's a jackpot.

*not a salesman

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
09/16/2013 at 19:11

Yep. And right now I'm doin ~100 of those a day...

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Tom McParland
09/16/2013 at 19:12

Software sales. Backup and Recovery. Cold calls. No fun at all :(

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > deadpedal
09/16/2013 at 19:13

That's exactly how I feel. And I used to feel like I was helping people because its a worthwhile product. But even then, it's a hard grind and I feel like I'm bein pushy and I don't like myself like that.

Tom McParland > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 19:15

Dude that sucks. We all put our time in that shit job...I worked for a temp agency once and was sent to an office to stuff envelopes with a bunch of crack-heads from the same agency. Hang in there and hopefully something better will come along.

deadpedal > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 19:21

Yeah, it's a funny balance. Be good people (which I'm sure you're doing) first. Most people appreciate that. Lots of sales is referral/word of mouth. The pushy ahole may be the best earner, but that jerk has to live with themselves.

If you're in a spot where being a nice dude isn't good enough, brush up the resume...shit ain't worth it.

What are you selling?

Autophile412 - what's the world got in store? > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 19:57

I know how you feel sometimes. I am a Field Sales Rep for an industrial flow control company. My motto is to "be honest and knowledgeable" and I try my hardest everyday to stick to my principles; else I would feel like a slime ball. It is the best money we lowly Bachelor's degree people can earn but it also makes me feel like a phony sometimes.

I always prided myself on the fact that I have always been honest and direct with everyone I meet. My new boss is always telling me to "add value" to the conversation and all these other corporate lines. It makes me want to scream and tell him to eff off but I have kids to feed so I bite my lip and lose a little piece of myself more and more everyday.

That being said, sales isn't for everyone but you can pride yourself on being an honest salesman who genuinely cares about the people he sells product to. Don't try to sell people shit they don't need or add-ons that make no sense.

You will feel better at the end of the day.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > deadpedal
09/16/2013 at 20:53

I can't really do referrals. It's Software Sales (backup and recovery) and the business type I sell to is Managed Service Providers, which is more competitive than comparative. So no referrals. Plus we all have designated territories. So yeah.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Autophile412 - what's the world got in store?
09/16/2013 at 21:16

Ours is kind of an all-in-one solution and is actually useful. But yeah, it's things like the "add value" instructions that make it seem sleezy.

birddog73 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 22:12

birddog73 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 22:22

Try selling a different product.
No joke, selling Cars made me a better Plumber.
Closing counts in any profession.

greenagain > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
09/16/2013 at 23:37

I hate sitting on the phone.
I tried selling home loans for a while and it was mostly calling, calling, calling.
It's not for everyone, just like selling cars.