BitcoinAddict

AE

Valued Contributor

Anyone else feel like they aren't a cultural fit for sales?

Maybe it is just my org. I feel like so many salespeople, especially guys in the industry, seem to have somewhat similar hobbies that include:

Golfing on weekends
Drinking as much beer as possible while they watch some sporting event (usually baseball, football, or basketball)
Talking about baseball, football, or basketball 24/7 as well as whatever some ESPN commentator said

It's like most sales guys I know are always trying to hype up how well they golf and somehow play up the "I am a mature and responsible alcoholic who is past his wild days" act. I can't seem to relate too well to it.

Meanwhile, my hobbies include doing MMA, going out to a cool nightclub with a friend on some weekends, Formula 1, photography, and going to a comedy show or two in town.

Somehow, I feel like if my coworkers knew how my life is different than theirs, I'd be the odd one out. Anyone else sort of feel this way?

☁️ Software Tech

🤘 Personal Growth

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LordOfWar

Tycoon

21

Blow it up

Your work friends do not need to be your off-work friends.

I have no interest in sports, golf, betting, or any of the other shit that the stereotypical salesperson does. It doesn't bother me because my hobbies are different and I have something interesting to talk about when people ask.

Every so often you see the sad look on some faces when they ask if I follow this or that team, but let's be honest, those people didn't have much real conversation planned anyways.

Not being a Chad/Brad cookie-cutter type will help in the future if you come off as a more relatable non-shark type of salesperson. People connect with people, not walking Ken dolls.

jefe

Arsonist

4

🍁

100% agree.

I rarely watch sports, only got me looks in boiler room-type, super young sales floors at the beginning of my career.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

5

Professional Day Ruiner

sales is a very "bro" culture. Doesn't mean you have to be one to fit in and be successful. You don't have to meet your new best friend at work.

Cabbie

Good Citizen

5

AE (Account Executive)

Yeah, I like gaming, theatre, and Dungeons & Dragons. The culture shock is real when my colleagues talk to me.

These days I like to think it's a good point of difference when I chat to prospects.

Nobody thinks "Oh god he's going to talk to me about the Local Team (TM)" when I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose and bust out my level 8 Minotaur Cleric named Eramus Fatespinner.

Use it to your advantage.

TennisandSales

Politicker

3

Head Of Sales

I felt this 100% when I first got into tech.

I was an SDR at age 25, married with a kid working with a bunch of kids out of college who partied hardy in the back yardy all the time and I was FOR SURE the odd man out.

But you know what? Who cares? I had ppl at work that I would talk to and have lunch with but we wouldnt hang out on the weekends or anything and I was totally cool with that.

braintank

Politicker

2

Enterprise Account Executive

Everyone has their own approach. I work with plenty of people who are like those you described (my current manager included). I'm not that type. I don't golf, drink to excess, nor follow sports. Yet, I still hit my number.

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I don’t drink. I don’t really play golf. I’m not a big socializing guy outside my hobbies which usually have nothing in common with my co-workers. I don’t really care though. I’ve long since gotten over the need to socialize with co-workers. I’m there for a job and that’s all.

SaaSyBee

Politicker

1

Founder

Oh, for sure. I'm a misfit most places, though. But even though my team and I have such different interests, we're still super tight.

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

1

Enterprise AE

Are you on a small team? -- this rings true for a lot of people, but if you join a larger org there's a better chance there's more similar people. me personally can check the box for all of the stereotypes, and your hobbies minus the MMA.

jefe

Arsonist

1

🍁

Sounds like a cultural misfit with your company, not sales overall.

Those are very old school, bro-ish aspects of sales that are not prevalent in a ton of industries and companies.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

1

Account Executive

I'll just come out and say it, golf is a rich person or old man's "sport", if you can even call it that. If baseball is America's past time, where does that put golf?

Idk, I'm more aligned with your hbbies since I train jiu jitsu, enjoy going to museums and comedy shows and such.

Also, one important distinction is your work friends ≠ real friends and family.

MrFinkle

Personal Narrative

1

Account Manager

I’ve been in sales for decades and never been involved in the activities mentioned. Just be diligent in your job, and you’ll get respect that way. Some reps build rapport through the mentioned activities. Others build rapport by doing their jobs well, showing up, being passionate and being good at what you do.

Just be yourself and focus on “your why” which seems like it likely includes your family “legacy”, etc.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I’m a misfit as well, but I have work friends and home friends. And that is just fine!

GDO

Politicker

1

BDM

Damn I´m a better fit than I thought haha

AnchorPoint

Politicker

1

Business Coach

Sales pros come in all forms... and sounds like your hobbies should help you connect with a huge portion... AND ... being the best usually requires being different.

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

1

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

I feel this sometimes. My sales teammates are way too aggressive professionally and personally. They like to be outgoing, loud and really hyped up folks. I am not. I’d spend my days reading or sleeping tbh.

Whenever we have offsite, I usually have a hard time spending time with them as their hobbies (including golf, partying and drinking till death do them apart) is way off than what I’d like to do - Explore the place in peace, eat local food and stuff. So yeah.

I find a balance normally. Like the comments here, they don’t need to be your off-work friends. Spend just enough time with them to have a good team bond with them, but don’t obviously change yourself for them.

Kmoney

Valued Contributor

1

Account Exec

Corny but true:

Be yourself but be likeable. Sometimes being different will give you the advantage.

As long as you don’t make others feel bad about who they are, and you prove you’re good at your job, it won’t matter at the end of the day.

I’m a woman. Everything is sports and bro talk. I’ve learned to lean into it in a sincere way and find common ground.

Cliche salesmen make customers uncomfortable, so being different can def give you an upper hand.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

0

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Maybe your Bitcoin addiction isn’t worked by out? But a better question - why do you care? You all have your own territories and closing is all that matters.

Mobi85

Politicker

0

Regional Sales Manager

What everyone else has said, just because you have different interests that others doesn't mean you aren't a great fit for sales.

I notice for myself personally that my interests also have changed as I have gotten older. What I used to enjoy in my 20s I struggle wanting to do in my 30s because damn my body can't recover like it used to.

WenWest15

Valued Contributor

0

Principal Business Development Manager

100%. Just do your thing. The bro culture stuff starts at the top, but doesn't equate success at all.

GALACTIC

Politicker

0

Account Executive

Those qualities you mentioned are memes these days, and I swear they're not conducive to sales success in 2022. I joke about that stuff, but I'm an introvert who had to train hard to do the consistent activity necessary for sales success. It's hard, but if you can confidently be your own person, the others (emotionally mature) will respect you for it. Disregard the dinks with their hustle/sales bro personalities copy pasted from social media.

Mog2060

Personal Narrative

0

account executive

I like talking about Sports and going out to Restaurants but drinking for me is an absolute no-no. I'm very averse to drinking. With that being said, you dont need to try and fit in with everyone else, just be yourself. At the end of the day, you are there to do a job and nothing should take your peace of Mind away.

ICookButNotWell

Personal Narrative

0

Account Executive

I'm actually pretty much that exact person you described (besides bullet 2). Use your interests to your advantage with clients and/or prospects. Just because you work with people doesn't mean you need to hang out with them (it's a bonus because it's easier to work with people you like but definitely not a necessity).

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

0

Territory Account Mgr.

The only thing that matters is that you can relate to your customers. As many have replied you don't have to be friends with your coworkers. They can be aquaintances. I have several coworkers that have become friends as I still talk to and see even though I left those jobs years ago.

You just need to make some connection to your customers. Some may be fascinated by your hobbies. Formula 1 is a very popular sport and if any of your customers are immigrants (assuming you are US based) then they actually may also like F1.

I always say "Talk to your customers. Do not sell to them."

Hifiwifi

Executive

0

Account Executive

I'm female, watch basketball and will join at golf but not heavy into it. I play CoD, make music, don't drink, foody. Food tends to be my conversation starter and I don't act like I know everything Bout basketball. But I ask questions about the teams, games and players and my coworkers seem to like that because it allows them to share their knowledge. At the end of a day we connect bc we are sales pro's and honestly, we're all a little different anyways with some commonalities. I wouldn't dwell too much on it.

baadshah

0

Business Development Manager

Golfing is not available in my city and I don't drink nor play. Still I fit in my job

sharpshooter2

Catalyst

0

MAKING IT HAPPEN!

Heck yes, I often don't share my private life with coworkers as being a woman in sales is very strange. Almost nothing in common with the guys, except some enjoy running races. Quickly became friends with another woman who was also pretty much only woman on the team.

procurementdevil

Politicker

0

AE

Bjj and extreme sports enthusiast here, hang in there, I also have an AE on my team who also is the same way

pete1rox

Member

0

President

I think your work friends are cool. Which courses they belong to? 😂

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

0

Sales Rep

Honestly with F1 I am sure a lot of people/co-workers are getting into it since every single tech company sponsors a car to some degree.

In most cases the people with the most "different" hobbies/interest are the people I try to talk to the most.

PioneerYourCreative

Executive

0

Account Executive

Focus on your goals and getting better at your craft, don't worry about what everyone else is doing.

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