fidelcashflow profile picture
fidelcashflow profile picture

fidelcashflow

Account Executive

Catalyst
Opinionated
Valued Contributor
+4

AMA: Fidelcashflow Edition

Love you guys.

๏ปฟ@Gasty๏ปฟ has selected me to do this week's AMA. I feel honored. This community means a lot to me and I've loved every moment of it. I don't have the freshest/hottest takes all the time but that doesn't matter. You guys listen, and if you don't agree, you humbly make your case. I salute you all ๐Ÿซก


Quick Background:

I've been slanging software for about 5 years but I didn't start in SaaS when I turned 22, I was def late to the party.


I finessed my way into one of the hottest startups in the US 5 years ago without graduating college. Started as an SDR, and in less than a year, I ended up going to another company as an AE. From there, I took on SMB, MM, and kind-of enterprise. Now Iโ€™m the founding AE at my new spot. Since I do everything, donโ€™t exactly call it an Ent role but I work all Ent companies and the largest deals. Iโ€™ve been lucky enough to work for some pretty cool places and typically have always hit quota. Had a few hiccup months here and there but probably lifetime like 90+% to quota. Iโ€™ve always been a holistic hire. I hit quota but do other stuff in the company to stand out. Not the person that is 200% every Q. Before this life, I worked weird jobs to stay afloat. Ran my own business at one point also. I never thought I would be here tbh.


Outside of being a founding AE I think I have some relevant advice in my head given that Iโ€™ve experienced everything in the startup world minus working for an SFDC type company. Everything from a 15-person company to a huge startup that grew from 300-1000 employees in less than a year.


I will highlight that I went through some tough times of having to jump jobs over the last year or so. Some job choices were bad on my end while some were not my fault (lied to me, deceived, etc.). I still find this relevant because I witnessed how a ton of different companies are built in such a short amount of time. Iโ€™ve seen it ALL. The good, the bad, and the holy shit wtf is this.


When I'm not chasing prospects, I like to be pretty active during the week working out or playing one of the few sports I'm into right now. DO NOT GET IT TWISTED, not all of us sellers wake up at 5am on Saturday to bike 200 miles. I love music, I like to party, and I love my friends. Here and there I might enjoy a Saturday run but I like to be extra good during the week and let loose on the weekends, sue me โค๏ธ


Ask anything and everything, please. Nothing too obscure.

๐Ÿง  Advice
๐Ÿคด AMA
โœ๏ธ Sales advice
16

13 comments

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oldcloser
Arsonist
7
๐Ÿ’€
Here's a question that may be rhetorical because it's couched in advice. What's the end goal?

First, why I ask:

You're clearly a guy who can navigate. You've found your way into some pretty sweet spots. You've got a trajectory. You know you'll find success. In my mind, you're one of us to the core, an up and coming pro.

I suspect that the hopping and the career conquests are because you're a next-stepper. I'm not judging. This is close to home. Next-steppers climb fast. They get a better job, watch, car, girlfriend, wardrobe, and anything else that can be deemed an upgrade, if not on demand, then A fucking SAP. The ability is natural, and its a beautiful thing.

But the end goal is often illusive. One can sell themselves right by it if they're not willing to sit still and find value and purpose in what they do every day.

You got a focus on where all of these persuasion chops are going to put you?

ps. Thanks for stepping up and doing this.
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
4
Account Executive
I like where your mind is at.

The end goal is to find peace and build. I've always been a "Next-Stepper'. I've been one in a good way and a bad way. I've been working inside and out to figure out better ways of judging when it is smart to do so and smart to avoid.

I didn't want to always have so much movement but I think it worked out. Even though the last year has been absolutely nutty, I think I found my home for the next bit.

I'll admit, I did not have that focus before but I think I am on the path.

I didn't exactly know what the end goal is, I've been searching and I found my plan.
Hope that at least semi-answers you ๐Ÿ˜Š
oldcloser
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ’€
It does. I get you. Had 5 jobs myself this year, all by necessity, but not my plan. Carry on, Monster
Sunbunny31
Arsonist
5
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Iโ€™ll ask a short one: which was your favorite company, and why? Can keep it anonymous; just explain vertical or whatever makes sense.

Thanks for doing this!
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
4
Account Executive
My favorite company was the one before my hopping.

Product was cool and easy but more of a nice to have. Almost every SaaS company used our tool. Team was local and awesome and my sales leadership was the best I've ever had I believe. The reason why this was my favorite was because almost everyone was on the same wave. We acted the same and seemed like we wanted the same.

Small thing being like slack for example. There was no "oh well stacy is ALWAYS online" ping her. The slack culture was part of the culture. Everyone was one and off around the same time. Is something a fire? Okay let's put it out. Oh it's not a fire? We'll get to it when we get to it.

In our hay day, I couldn't replace those people if I tried. That is what made it my favorite. The pay was dope and had all the benefits and perks you could think of. But that's not what made it my favorite.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
4
Account Executive - SMB
A two part question on this:
Weirdest job you've worked while staying afloat, and what did you learn from that experience, to help you moving forward?
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
4
Account Executive
Maybe weird isn't the right word for it but I worked for a company that had people in place that just should have not been there. It was mindblowing.

We had investors and it is puzzling how they signed off on a director of sales who would struggle to be an IC, head of marketing with 1 year of exp, and a product lead fresh out of college.

There was absolutely no processes in place but a ton of tech stack.

I learned that imposters are real. not imposter syndrome but imposters. I would always give everyone credit based on their title. and to never ever sell myself short. I would underestimate myself because I didn't have manager or director next to my name but that does not matter. The ideas I sold in presentations were taken positively.

This is only a part of the puzzle though. I've seen 1000 ways NOT to do things at a company.
bonez
Politicker
4
Account Executive
I got one! How do you keep your confidence high when job jumping especially when it's not your fault?
Also do you pronounce it vase or vase?
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
4
Account Executive
It is all in how to present yourself and tell your story. I luckily have an awesome mentor who really helped me with this.

No one will ever really care that you were at a company for 3 months. They will care about the reason. So you need to be very precise with how you tell the story. Don't blame anyone or anything. Always blame it on circumstance.

"I signed up based on the specific conditions and duties that were outlined during interviews. When those things drastically changed, it completely misaligned with my understanding of the role" - This is a long way of saying "It wasn't what I signed up for"-but no one wants to hear that. But what they really don't want to hear is what people usually say instead of the above: "They lied to me, I didn't get the right patch, we have shit leads. etc."
The interviewer has to think that they would have done the same thing had they been in your shoes.

I think the real answer is that I kept my confidence because I've told my story sooooo many times and have perfected the talk track. Although, it is something I created, I hope to never have to use it again.
jefe
Arsonist
4
๐Ÿ
I was going to ask how you navigate these discussions, but saw you covered it in this response to @bonez .

Thanks for sharing this and everything else, fidel!!
fidelcashflow
Catalyst
4
Account Executive
Very important to note that I failed many 2nd round interviews in the beginning just because my explanations sucked.
bonez
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Love that. Never discount a great mentor. Helps cut down the learning time drastically. Having someone with a roadmap + experience is clutch.

Great response to the job question my dude. Love the confidence!
CuriousFox
WR Officer
0
๐ŸฆŠ
Tough times are what makes us strong โค๐ŸฆŠ

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