Epictetus profile picture
Epictetus profile picture

Epictetus

SaaSy

Valued Contributor
Opinionated
Executive
+4

Do you also hate your job?

Hi all,


Am I crazy or do I want to quit my job like 3 times per week? I found myself working for a group of three founders that want to be involved in every sale. To the point where they are double guessing everything that I do and say. I've been in sales for 10 years, and I've never missed a quota. Ever. I like to think that I'm good at what I do, but this atmosphere has me thinking that I know nothing. Now, my deals are falling apart because there are so many people in the kitchen while this stuff is cooking.


Should I find a new role? Is there another path that I can't see here?

🙏 Mental Wellness
☁️ Software Tech
🤠 Culture
24

30 comments

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CuriousFox
WR Officer
11
🦊
Oh dude I hate this shit. I feel your pain. If they don't abide by your boundaries and knowledge of the status then I'd look elsewhere. Go flourish where you're appreciated.
detectivegibbles
Politicker
3
Sales Director
There's places out there, I promise.
eyris
Fire Starter
0
Business Development Intern
Company values and culture is important
SADNESSLieutenant
Politicker
9
Officer of ♥️
Find another role!

Congrats on hitting quota every single time that's epic. Tell us your secrets.

Sorry that's happening to you!
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Yeah, would love to know the secrets
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
7
Sales Rep
Never hurts to start interviewing. Just be picky and remember you dont have to move on to the Hiring Manager if you dont want to. You can always back out during the process
Fenderbaum
Politicker
4
Retired Choirboy🪕
Are you able to communicate some of your concerns to the founders? If not, then your experience and skills can allow you to go where you are valued.
Epictetus
Valued Contributor
5
SaaSy
I’ve tried to gently nudge them and express my problem. They might need a more direct approach.
ZVRK
Politicker
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Try to be as blunt as possible. I was in a similar situation to the point where i just couldn`t take it anymore. I too gave them subtle nudges before but it was only when i was pretty direct with what i didn`t like that things started changing. With me, it was all the sales sync meetings we had, like 4-5 times per week!
SaaSsy
Politicker
4
AE
Ugh, founders can be too thirsty and not know how to manage the sales cycle the right way. Do they listen to you at all? If they’re open, great opportunity to prove yourself and manage up, set your own processes and measure success. If they won’t budge, then yea, move on.
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
4
Account Executive
Have you shared that with your founders or is the relationship too touchy to be able to do that?
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I’m sorry this is happening. I agree with others that you should start looking for another role to see if there’s a place that’s a better fit.

In the meantime, is there a way to talk to your manager about having too many people in your deals and how it’s having a very negative impact? Will your manager be able to work with you to get the involvement lightened?
jefe
Arsonist
4
🍁
Find something else, there are good ones out there!

Thankfully our founder is hands off on the small stuff/day-to-day and takes my opinions and decisions to heart.
eyris
Fire Starter
0
Business Development Intern
Exactly
coletrain
Politicker
3
Account Executive
IMO

1. Always keep your ear to the ground. You don't know what's out there. Plus you'll have the ability to hone your interviewing skills for when you're seriously looking.

2. Directly bring up concerns that you have. You mentioned that you've nudged them and things haven't changed. My typical experience is that you need to mention things in transparent terms with lost revenue metrics to build your case. You are internally selling why they should not be there.

3. You are not Jon Snow: you clearly know something since you've hit every quota for a decade.

Perhaps 2 works out and you can make more money. However 1 and 3 are important if not.
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
Based on what you are saying I would 100% find a new role. If I am a rep that always hit the target for 10 yrs, I will assure myself that I am great as always and just change the direction.
eyris
Fire Starter
0
Business Development Intern
Agreed
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Micro management kills sales.
Either tell them this or find something else.
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
When it's the founders' baby of a product/brand, in my experience they keep a death grip and point two ways at once. This is why I refuse to work for pre-seed or series A companies.
Maximas
Tycoon
1
Senior Sales Executive
You always need to get yourself funded untill you'll find what you actually need, unless you don't have family you're covering that's different you may then take the risk.
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
1
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
I am sorry you're going through this.
I quit when i felt like quitting 3 times a day. I was angrier than ever, I was always fighting because things at work were on fire. I quit one day.

I like what I do here.
LegacySales
Politicker
1
Account Executive
I remember the day I got promoted from SDR to AE, I thought "Oh wow this is gonna get alot better!"
Then I went to work the next day and I thought to myself "Yup I still hate this."
The good news was that I later got a commission check so large that I could extinguish the entirety of my student loan portfolio in one day.

I hate this shit too, but my advice is to live for the great days.
ventox35
Politicker
1
Sales Leader
feels like my life. "i need to be on EVERY closing call! when i'm on them, we win them all!"
mr founder: please stahp
salesking
Politicker
1
Manager of Business Development
I literally want to quit on a daily bases... I love my job and the people I work with but my boss sucks... Bosses push good reps away and it will be their loss.
Epictetus
Valued Contributor
1
SaaSy
I feel you! I love the other people. I love the product. I'm really passionate about what we are selling. I really believe that I'm making someone's life easier, and I take pride in that work. I just have such a hard time with these kinds of bosses.
WhoDey
Opinionated
1
VP of Sales
Had the same experience working for the founder of a company...I can't imagine a situation with three co-founders. I wish I could say it gets better, but it doesn't.
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Seek another another job man, only the place that appreciates you the most deserves your efforts.
SDM
Politicker
0
Sales development manager
Find a new job asap brother.... I hate this shit
BlueJays2591
Politicker
0
Federal Business Dev Director
Nope, find a new gig. That's micromanagement at its finest. They can either trust you to do what you were hired to do or you can go elsewhere. No need to put up with that
SalesinSeattle
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Been there before, been there plenty. (Minus the making the number for a decade part *tip of the cap*)
If you're not appreciated, don't fight the tide, likely a better situation out there with more money and better appreciation.
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