Oden

Account Executive

Do people actually like this?

I have been SDRing for a few years now, I changed careers to sales because I had a kid on the way and my passion career pay couldn't even buy dog food. I really don't like cold calling and handling objections feels like that douchy guy at the bar who wont take no for an answer. That is a guy I would punch in the face. I feel like an asshole most every call that is not easy. Is this just the deal? Should I punch myself in the face more often or just quit this shit?

🏰 War Stories

45 comments

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sahil

Notable Contributor

Deepak Chopra of Sales

@Oden - the real problem is: you're at an outsourced SDR firm. That's one of the worst places to work.

Find a job at a real SaaS company where you have upward mobility, can be part of a mission-driven team, etc. and you'll be good to go.

https://bravadomember.typeform.com/to/GZuqakHs#email=xxxxx -<<< sign up for our jobs pilot and let me get you placed somewhere better.

Oden

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Hey I checked it out, I would be alright with an SDR company with more chance to move up. Would it be crazy to try to jump to an AE role?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

"Few years"

Go be an AE and see how your mindset changes. Oh, you'll still cold call, but you can actually close that business, too.

Oden

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

I'm approaching 3 years, I had to take anyone who would hire me as an old career changer, being 38 and starting in SaaS is a bit out of the norm. Sales managers tend not to want people older than them I found. My first SDR gig was at a reseller, laid off in peak pandemic. But I think an AE role would be better, I did like to close deals and solve client challenges.

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Why not try to get a promotion? Have you been hopping around during your time as a SDR?

InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

In all honesty. Yes, it is rough at times and it can suck balls or worse the rest of the time.

If you've been doing it for a few years then try to find that jump to AE or Sales Enablement if that interests you.

Fundamentally though, Sales is not easy. It will be rough and you need to have a reason that justifies putting up with the mountain of shit that you will have to endure throughout a career.

Covfefe4ClosersOnly

VP of Sales

This is it. Honestly, doesn’t matter how great the company or product, if you can’t push past not taking no for an answer, you’ll always struggle. I’m obviously biased as I’m in the field, but I would say stick it out, because once you gain the muscle to get good at it, it will be something you use the rest of your life and will make you more money/save you money (on say, buying cars).

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Being a SDR fucking blows and maybe 10% of people like the role. Usually, people might like the company, their co-workers, etc., but they don’t like the role. Look at Account Management/Customer Success as well. People will look less skeptically than you because of age (even though that’s bullshit anyway).

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

sales

What are you selling? This is how I pay the bills. I have a right to earn & exist as much as the next guy. It's not bad but also not for everyone.

Oden

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Different sass products, being at an outsourced SDR company I have sold Martec, Cyber Security, and HR software, all start ups. I get super annoyed with the personas I sell to with in a few months. I agree, its not bad, but it might not be for me. I might just be too honest/trusting to ever make the kind of $$ I feel would be worth it.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

sales

Find something new to do. Sales never changes. We're convincing someone to do something. You may need to look for a new industry.

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

sales

Also, I still love you.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

This is ridiculously true. We really are always convincing someone of something, even in our personal lives.

privateryan

Politicker

Director of Sales

i thought this was going to be a post about butt stuff based on the title

TheKing

Good Citizen

CEO

I like the way you think...how many people caught that?

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

Yeah apply for AE, gets much better 🙌 Also it you can do BDR for few years, you're unstoppable.

Avon

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

I hated being an sdr. I’m ambivalent about the AE job but I like the lifestyle it affords me.

BeatCancer

Fire Starter

Account Executive

Well I think it depends how you prospect/sell, and how good you are at making people receptive. I use this approach and it tends to work for everything....

My name is not James....

Hey its James over from XYZ

- Hi James

Did I catch you at an okay time?

- No. What is it about?

I want to let you know I am sales rep

- Yea okay what do you want?

Is it okay with you if I use 15-30 secs to explain what I am selling then you can quickly see if you find it relevant enough for a meeting?

- Yes go ahead.

Would you and anyone else at COMPANYNAME be interested to learn how APPEALINGCOMPANYTOTHECUSTOMER1, 2 and 3 uses YOURTOOL to
1) Get live data to make data driven decisions
2) Avoid having to do manual work, which leads to higher costs and mistakes and automate everything from lead to cash
3) Have a scaleable solution which lowers their IT costs and raises staff morale

If you know for a fact you have knowledge within your field and your tool/software actually helps customers you shouldn't feel like punching yourself in the face.

Do.it.for.the.checks

Politicker

Account Executive

Sales isn't for everyone, but you probably need a new company.

Find a product you believe in and then you're not an asshole. You're helping by pushing back. I'm not selling you software, I'm solving business problems.

At the end of sales, most people thank you for your persistence because you made their life better and made their company more profitable.

MSPSales

Politicker

Partner Development Manager

No one likes being an sdr. You need to do your time in the trenches and learn. After three years bro you really should be thinking bigger

SiliconBBQ

Politicker

The Metal Rooster

Dude I started at 34. Had a kid at 38. There are times sales feels like a young man's game. Cold calling can be a drag. but it is the nature of the beast; some orgs it's not quite as necessary if there's good inbound flow / opp flow but you usually have to cut your teeth and have earned your stripes to get the lead.

I only pulled 8 months as an sdr; then promoted to an AE role. I could never go back to my old career. But I also could never go back to being an ADR even though there are days/weeks/months where that's basically my grind. You need to figure out a plan to get promoted into a closing role or AM role at the least; like sahil mentioned get out of an outsourced function and somewhere with a promo track. gtfo of BDR land.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Maybe look at your motivations for why you're doing what you're doing, and see if you can find it rewarding in that sense.

I'd also take a look at where you are and what you've done, and maybe do a kind of inventory on the good and bad.

Sales is a great field, but it's not for everyone. That being said, you should give yourself a chance to enjoy it by doing the above.

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Try for a level up position. Throw out the fear thats within you and stop making yourself realize that you aren't good at X,Y,Z because over a long term you will carry this with you and try to relate yourself everywhere (even outside of your professional life). I have been there and I can feel you but focus on a solution not a problem.

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

Being a BDR is annoying af at times, but there's a reason why the churn is so high for these types of roles. It sounds like you've been in the role for a while and like the others have said, it may be time to talk about trying an AE role.

I had my performance review and my manager told me to start thinking ahead on what I want, whether that's management or a closing role, I'm definitely leaning towards the AE role. I think you should have this open conversation with your manager.

justatopproducer

Politicker

VP OF SALES -US

Try for a promition like many already said. Also, what is your passion or what you did before SDR? My advice would be to sdr and AE or AM at somewhere in that industry/vertical. Its much more enjoyable knowing you have a solution for xyz, and offer value for their time and you feel less douchy. Think of it like the guy at the bar hitting on another person and won’t take a no. Im sure many of those instances ended up in marriage eventually. So, if you never hit on that girl in the bar and kept trying after she wasn’t inteseted in you because you’re 5ft 6.. would any short guy be married?

FamilyTruckster

Politicker

Exec Director, Major Accounts

I’ve been in sales for 10+ years. Cold calling is still my least favorite thing to do. Some people love the “challenge”.

I’d rather have to call a customer back that I KNOW is upset and wants to yell.

But when I have to, I dial. And keep dialing. And try to get out of my own way.

Kirby

Politicker

Sales Representative

You could try customer success.

Ligy12

Opinionated

Inside sales

Yes promociones are the best

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Either sales is not for you, you need to lose that mindset or you need to find another sales role.

LordBusiness

Politicker

Chief Revenue Officer

You don't have to be "that guy' to be successful in sales and SDR. I know a lot of SDR's who are seeing a ton of success with "transparency openings to cold calls like "I know this call is an interruption, but do you have 25 seconds to (insert value prop). It takes the cliché "sales" edge off.

UltimateMango

Opinionated

Chief of Nothing

I didn't personally like it, but I found and hired people who LOVED the SDR job and didn't want to do anything else.

SalesOctopus

Valued Contributor

Enterprise Business Development Representative

Your time on a call is just as valuable as theirs. You're selling them a solution, something that will help them. If you believe in what you're selling you KNOW you're not being an asshole, you're trying to help.

I suggest looking into selling something that matters to you. I'm passionate about my job because I know we help solve problems nobody else can help with.

TheKing

Good Citizen

CEO

I went through the comments and see that almost everyone is totally missing the point. Are you doing that job to make ends meet...to pay the bills? If so, that sucks. And making ends meet will just be a soul sucking torture.

Sales is a great career. If what you are offering will make a positive difference to your client, then it is a win/win situation. Think about it...you are getting paid TO HELP PEOPLE.

What a great thing that is. What a wonderful opportunity!

I know that it might be a tired idiom, but you really need to find your passion. Sales is great, but make sure that what you're selling is your passion.

I LOVE my job. The most difficult part of it is taking a vacation. I mean, a vacation from what? I love this stuff. I live and breathe it. I'm a geek about it. Even after dinner and a little TV, I often go back to my office to finish up the stuff I couldn't get to during the day.

You should too. Everyone here is in a fantastic profession. We are some of the top earners in the world. Sell what you love!

Big_Building_Energy

Executive

Sales

Maybe try something outside of SaaS?

FuzzySlippers

Executive

SDR Manager

The SDR role is a development role, the expectation you should be setting for yourself is that you move on to another role (AE, Leadership, new role, etc) when you have learned all you can from it (1-2years tops unless your being groomed for management). It is meant as a launching pad for the start of a sales career, NOT where you spend the next 5-10 years. If your current org makes it sound like you are destined for another how many ever years with them as an SDR... GET OUT ASAP!

My advice is to stay away from start-up orgs and go to a market leader or at least a large organization for an SDR role. This serves a few purposes:
1. Higher internal turnover leading to increased likelihood of promotion/movement
2. More frequent & quality customer conversations from company/product notoriety
3. Typically better/more organized training
4. Clearer career progression paths

Good luck with everything and don't settle!

DataSlangah

Politicker

SAE

As cliche as this sounds, you should change your mindset. From, what seems from your short post, this shit sucks, and I sound like a douche because these people hate to a mindset of I am helping these people figure out their problems and presenting solutions to help them solve those.

cw95

Politicker

Sales Development Lead

Day 1 - Shit that was hard

Day 2 - Shit that was hard

Day 3 - man that was cringe
.
.
.
.
.Day 25 (maybe) - 'Fair, f**k that guy, next contact it is!'

Just one of those things which everyone on this platform has had to go through.

THe best thing I was taught in sales is that the person you are ringing is just another human. Nothing scary, just a person.

Dial the buttons and you'll get an outcome.

ChrisSellsHisSoul

Fire Starter

Owner

You need to find your people.

In my experience, *who* you sell to is a big factor in happiness. Find a job where you are selling to people who are similar to you and it becomes much easier to strike up business out of the cold.

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Oden

Do people actually like this?

45 comments

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