CadenceCombat profile picture
CadenceCombat profile picture

CadenceCombat

Account Executive

Tycoon
Arsonist
Politicker
+12

How many lie about their own success?

Curious to know if you think lying about one’s success is more prominent in sales compared to other careers / industries! (Bending the truth counts)

how many sales reps lie about their own success

Attached poll
*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.
🤷‍♂ Poll
19

20 comments

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antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
4
Bravado's Resident Asshole
I would say that it varies. Everyone bends the truth from time to time. I mean fishermen do it all of the time. hah
aiko
Politicker
0
Sr. Account Executive
Big fish is a great movie if that is what you are referring too!
sketchysales
Politicker
4
Sales Manager
It depends how you frame the question. By number? Yes a lot then because theres a huge number of people in sales.

As a percentage though compared to other roles?

Id say middle, i think you would find a lot of people who work in marketing and then those who consider themselves entrepreneurs or founders would have a higher percentage of exaggerating their success.
TennisandSales
Politicker
4
Head Of Sales
i HAVE to believe its more prominent in sales!

1. its hard to prove. if I tell you i hit quota its going to be hard for that company to verify that.
2. with sales being SO results driven, no one feels like they will be able to have any opportunities in the future unless they say they were a top performer or closed big deals or things like that.

i 100% bent the truth early in my career to get the hell out of a terrible spot.
Beans
Big Shot
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Everyone.
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
2
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
Everyone would lie, to some extent!
Nobody likes to sound mediocre or basic.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
Majority of people will over-exaggerate to impress people or just to feel better. Its not really malicious or a bad thing
SaaSam
Politicker
2
Account Executive
When I'm doing very well I downplay the degree of success I'm experiencing. Mainly because I don't trust people. Don't want anyone thinking that because things are going well I should contribute more or anything like that.

When I'm not doing super hot, I just don't talk about how well things are going.

The only place that I'm quick to share exactly how well I'm doing is here because it's anonymous and a good few of ya'll understand this world.

Even with my wife, I downplay things. Mainly because I've been doing so well for so long she's gotten used to things that used to be rare big wins for me so it's just another day in her perspective.

In short, I guess lies of omission when things are going really well. But I can't really think of a time I've tried to make myself sound more successful than I really was.
Fenderbaum
Politicker
2
Retired Choirboy🪕
People lie all the time.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
‼🐈‼
Justatitle
Big Shot
2
Account Executive
Every. Single. One.
punishedlad
Tycoon
1
🧙‍♂️
Depends on the circumstance. Job interviews? The truth can get a little bendy.
FoodForSales
Politicker
1
AE
i think there is a level of expected BS in the corporate world. Some might call it.... Bravado.
aiko
Politicker
1
Sr. Account Executive
I actually don't lie. I'm a terrible liar, but I think people appreciate it on the other end being honest. I don't lie about my product or about my successes. Maybe I should start haha.
MeowMeow
Politicker
1
Senior Enterprise Account Executive
I like to under promise and over deliver. If they think I can exceed their goals and I boast because I know I can, they will only make my quota harder to attain. Play dumb. Rule the world.
Filth
Politicker
1
Live Filthy or Die Clean
I don't know about lying on the success - but I've always made a point to downplay the amount of work I do to get the deals/cash. I feel like it's my job to keep the magic of sales alive and when a non sales person looks inside the bubble they feel that all sales people just wake up, piss excellence, cash check and snap necks. Got to have that air of mystery.

Nobody wants to hear about the self doubt, stress, rejection, dreams, late night desperation, and early morning burn out. But I'm a romantic.
meowmix
Contributor
1
CSA
I think the more important question is whether or not you're lying to yourself.
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
0
Account Executive
Deep, dude.
notdavemoss
Valued Contributor
1
CCBW
If a sales guru or trainer is telling you they're rich, they're lying.
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
You don' have to lie about your success unless it would be to people who do not wish you success:)

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