Kosta_Konfucius

Sales Rep

Family as a Field Rep

Getting married and can see constant travel being an issue. With Covid allowing for travel, there seems to be constant talks trips to visit clients. I am fully remote and love the flexibile and ability to take breaks and do things around the house. Technically I am a inside rep, but every ad hoc connect we discuss when we should meet X client in person.

I am not sure if the significant other would be okay more than a year of pre-covid traveling rep. She says she will be okay with it, but you never know.

Any field reps with family have advice before traveling.

🙏 Mental Wellness

17 comments

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Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Communication is key. I've traveled for years; some years have been easier than others, but we made it through. My "sacrifice" early on when my kids were very young was to mostly be in inside sales, though I benefitted from working for a smaller company where we could be flexible, and I did get to travel to key customers I worked on with the field rep.

The hardest part was missing events for my kids as they grew. I missed out on a couple really great things, and those things are not recoverable. That's going to be something you'll have to work out as you go, but bear in mind it's not just the extra work your partner has to do, it's the family things you'll sacrifice by not being there. Fortunately, it was only a couple of things that I missed, so I'm not beating myself up too hard, but do be advised it's something to be aware of.

As I was interviewing for roles (big companies have openings all the time and I'd check them out), travel and how much was a key factor in decisions. Some positions had reps on the road 80% of the time, which for me was too much. Others relied on rep discretion to be smart about the travel and when it would be optimal, which have been the best fits for me personally.

Now my kids are getting themselves to school and events and practices, and travel would be much easier, except that it's still not happening that much yet post-pandemic (the irony).

Finally, you will make more money in the field; enterprise sales simply pays more, so travel will provide you with more money for your family. You'll have to balance that against the time spent away from your family to figure out if it's right for you - or how much time away is appropriate.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Really helpful advice, it is currently "up to our discretion" however I have been on 2 teams. One team never traveled once, even for monster deals. The other team travels constantly, where the field rep is single and wants the miles to do awesome vacations.

If I am on team one, dont think it would ever be a problem. But if you are behind on the number and have not been traveling I can see there will be pressure eventually

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Discretion for me means looking at the customer I'm traveling to and how much time it would take away from other deals I'm working on. If my travel time eats into my other deals, I'm going to be very careful about how and when I book. Currently I have customers all over the US, not geo-based, so it's not as simple as hopping in my car and spending half a day with a customer, it will be a serious investment of my time. That said, I wasn't the kind to travel in order to rack up miles/points (though that's a nice perk). It always has to make sense to me. Being behind on numbers can make people look at metrics, so if the travel makes sense, absolutely go, but if it doesn't, you've saved the company money.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Why would you need to travel if you are inside sales?

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

We work along side Field Reps, if you are good on meetings you get invited for travel.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Does an invitation mean you have to attend?

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

I have never heard of someone saying no. Yes it’s an invitation but seems like people should say yes every time to share you care.

Maybe I’m overthinking it and it’s normal to say no, just never hear about it

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

yeah so i havnt been asked to visit customers yet. BUT i do travel for about 1 week a month.

my tips:
1. give as much notice as possible so you can plan calendars.
2. Give your wife an opportunity to do something she really enjoys (this is even more important if you have kids)
3. be actively involved in planning for what the fam is doing while you are gone. done just leave it up to your wife to figure everything else out.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Keep in constant communications and understand her love language to the T. Also, start looking for a new WFH gig.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Interesting approach - inside heading out.

Strange, to be sure.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

I always take my fiancé with me on as many work trips as possible. I may be busy during the day with meetings and what not, but we still get to spend the mornings and evenings together, and usually extend the trip by a day or 2 so we can go out and explore whatever area I may be in. And then when I’m busy with work she can go explore and what not on her own.

When she can’t go, communication is key. Call each other, FaceTime, remind each other that you care and are thinking about them. Don’t just pretend like the other person doesn’t exist while you’re out for work.

cap

Opinionated

Enterprise Sales

Have done the same thing pre Covid. If I would go to a conference mon-thru, I’d fly her out Thursday and we’d stay for the weekend

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

(1) Its VERY odd to have an Inside Rep traveling. Outside of the occasional conference, most orgs I have been with don't have Inside Sales travel, and never weekly.

(2) If she says she's ok with it, she's probably ok with it. Travel happens. She'll probably be jealous about your travel at some point until you talk through all the "joys" of travel (late plans, sitting on a tarmac for hours, crappy hotels, etc.)

(3) After your first trip, your hyper-sensitivity to this issue will go away. At least until your first kid is born.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

I agree it is super weird being the inside rep, I am taking it as I am good on meetings so I will be good for in person too/future promotion to field.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

That's exactly how I was able to discuss my time as an inside rep as well. Willingness to travel and being able to visit a customer from time to time is going to help you in the long term.

Pachacuti is right - inside reps usually don't travel, but I did (again, that small company/flexibility/many hat scenario), and it wasn't so cumbersome I had issues.

He's also right about the jealousy. My husband doesn't hear all the good stuff anymore, though I do leverage my experiences to bring him places worth visiting. AND - my company didn't care who was in the room with me just so the job got done, so my husband accompanied me a few times when I was working a conference. He went on city tours and golfed, and I did the conference. Win/win.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

Life balance is important. There's always somewhere else you can go and sell for - being 100% remote or non-traveling.

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

Territory Account Mgr.

Good comments here so I’ll add my opinion. I’m single and don’t have to worry about a significant other but I do have dogs. Basically this means I need to plan my days accordingly and if I do have overnight travel make sure I have some advance notice. My suggestion is to take advantage of the invites and travel when you feel it would benefit your career. You may decide that inside sales will only take you so far and having experience doing outside sales will open more doors for you. I commend your employer for having that option available as it does help to strengthen the bond between supplier and customer.

your significant other has to understand that your employment is important to your relationship and that sometimes sacrifices will need to be made by both of you.

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Kosta_Konfucius

Family as a Field Rep

17 comments

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