GetAHobby

RVP Sales

How old are you?

I always said sales people have a shelf life, so I'm wondering if people on here feel the same way and how old everyone is?

I recall being 22 fresh out of college as a inside rep and looking at some of the guys in there 40s and just thinking I could never still be doing this at that age. Well, here I am almost 20 yrs later, while I've moved positions a few times, I'm still out here carrying a bag and a number.

I've somewhat changed my opinion on thinking there is a shelf life, but how long can you sustain the sales grind?

🏰 War Stories

169 comments

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Hotsaw

Politicker

VP Sales

40 this year... you realize there's not much else you can do to get the dough that sales provide. Not much else I'd want to do at this point.

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

I'm exactly with you. Just turned 40 and have worked my way into a lifestyle that I can't turn away from my "sales income" basically until I hit retirement/empty nester.

Hotsaw

Politicker

VP Sales

But honestly - what else would you want to do at this point. Covid's been a real slap in the face to the lifestyle, but it'll return.

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

There really isn't anything else I would want to do at this point, but 22 yr old me thought for sure I wouldn't still be doing this.

Hotsaw

Politicker

VP Sales

Totally... but 22 yr old me was also a moron looking to get drunk/stoned/laid every weekend too! haha

Captain_Q

Arsonist

Sr. Account Executive

Nailed it!

SiliconBBQ

Politicker

The Metal Rooster

late bloomer here. got into tech sales at 34. spent prior 10 years as a consultant/auditor for a conglomerate. loved the international travel but much of the work bored me to tears. Turning 40 this year. ...lean heavily on that experience with what I sell now. May pivot from a direct role to AM in the next couple years but generally this career is a much better fit. ....money will be an issue regardless because i have a younger wife and had my first kid at 37. ....probably not retiring before she's out of college even though it should be paid for at this rate.

JuicyKlay

Celebrated Contributor

That's what I'm worried about! I'm almost 30 and starting to wonder what career change I could possibly get in to and maker $100k plus other than sales without getting another degree.

caS2ie

Good Citizen

All things people

Recruiting; sales for people :)

JuicyKlay

Celebrated Contributor

Now we're talking! I've always been curious about recruiting.

Hotsaw

Politicker

VP Sales

But what are you worried about? Staying in a job that pays well? Sure there's stress, but there's a ton of flexibility and without that SADNESS is life even worth living??

Stax

Opinionated

AE - Major Accounts

I hear that. Sitting here at 30 I'd have a really hard time justifying a 60% (or greater) pay cut to try another field.

GeneralCorp

Notable Contributor

General of The War Room

My body: 32. My mind: 14.

WenWest15

Valued Contributor

Principal Business Development Manager

51, so I've lapped a bunch of you already.

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

The key is, how do you feel?

WenWest15

Valued Contributor

Principal Business Development Manager

Appreciated. And frankly, a heck of a lot more strategic about when/how/where I spend my time. Lots of LONG term clients make life easier.

fuzzy

Notable Contributor

CMO (Chief Meme Officer)

Nice try FBI man

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

29...I wish I had gotten into sales sooner. I only found it in my late 20s. Better late than never, I suppose.

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

Glad you found it. I remember talking my brother-in-law into going into sales when he had just turned 30, about 5 yrs later now and he has been on a few club trips and thanks me just about every time we're together.

BorntoSell

Contributor

Global Business Development Manager

I feel you!!

OnlySales

Opinionated

Regional Enterprise Sales Manager

I’m 26 and wish I got in sooner as well. There’s also bachelors degrees in sales.. wish I knew about that too.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

A bachelor's degree in sales sounds like a very creative way to set money on fire, lol

HoosierDaddy

Valued Contributor

SDR

Yo me too. Spent too long bartending, but those people skills definitely pay off. And knowing what it’s like without perks or benefits.

CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

27! I can sustain this as long as caffeine exists.

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

If caffeine ceased to exist I'd be in so much trouble

CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

I think we all would.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

33 here. 11 years in and I've worked in every sales function you can imagine (carrying, managing, ops, you name it). I have worked with 50+-year-olds at old-school SV companies pulling in 7-figure W2s like Big Blue (easy to figure out), and have been in a bullpen filled with 23-year-old bros. I cannot say there's a certain age where you "get it" and another when you feel like it's time to leave--you either have the bug or you don't.

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

23 and plan on selling for a LONG time! Just got my 1st AE role starting in a month, ready for that real $$

MidWestAE

Good Citizen

Enterprise Account Executive

24 for me... Always feel like I'm the youngest in the room...Youngest AE in the company by 10+ years

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

Relatable dude, congrats on running with the more experienced reps though!

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

Wow I did not realize how below the average age here I'd be

MaSaaSter

Opinionated

US BD Lead

You're not alone buddy, I turned 25 last week lol

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

How many BDRs do you lead? Great to already be in management at 25!

thegrinch

Politicker

SDR

I'm 24!

SiliconBBQ

Politicker

The Metal Rooster

change your username---> there's supposed to be a level of pseudonymity here and you went full on captain obvious jmkluger.

Love ya buddy

MaSaaSter

Opinionated

US BD Lead

I have updated it, appreciate it @SiliconBBQ

MaSaaSter

Opinionated

US BD Lead

As of now, just one. Company is less than 20 people, but we will likely be hiring two more direct reports by the end of the calendar year!

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

Great! Congrats

NeildeSaaSTyson

Contributor

Senior Account Executive (MM)

@Wolfof7thStreet keep that hunger alive! Set short-term and long-term goals. Think long term when the times are good, use those short term focuses to get you through the grinding days, and see a closer light at the end of the tunnel. Congrats on the pormo!

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

Thank you for the kind words

OnlySales

Opinionated

Regional Enterprise Sales Manager

Yasss! Congrats that’s amazing

Rallier

Politicker

SDR Manager and Consultant

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

I wish I was taught the SaaS world sooner for sure, I always ran away from sales because of my own preconceptions of the role, you know the slimy and typical sales guy.

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

One of my VPs told me "this isnt the type of sales your parents talk about. This isnt slimy or sleazy, we are actually helping people. This is academic selling, and you need to remember that" and it has definitely stuck with me. Big difference between software and car sales lol

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

That's actually very true, and I'm willing to steal that quote if allowed to hahhahaa

Wolfof7thStreet

Valued Contributor

Please do!

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

I've worked a few college job fairs recruiting for our sales team, and its funny the number of people that RUN from talking about becoming a sales rep. Its definitely a don't knock it until you try it type of job.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

Hahahaha that's funny, in this particular situations, in my 20s, I can see my self just slowly walk away, terrified

Accidental_Sales_Guy

Politicker

Account Executive

@GetAHobby Are you referring to "self life" for an individual contributor? Or for being in Sales in general? I see you're an RVP, so I imagine the grind of carrying a bag and a number may change if you're mixing mentoring and leadership with your closing expectations.

I've only been in sales for 3 years, and like you at 22, I would be shocked if I was still and individual contributor 10 years from now.

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

Its a little of both, as I have seen people that just love the grind and want to be an individual contributor for their entire career. I don't see that as sustainable for me personally but maybe the masses can do it.

Even though in other leadership roles I've been in, I'm still reporting a number and reviewing SFDC, its just as daunting if not more at time from when I was just worried about my dials and talk time.

Incognito

WR Officer

Master of Disaster

41 and pissed about it lol

But I totally switched careers at 40 into a purely sales role in an entirely different industry. In this one, the veterans are all in their late 50s and still going hard.

However, I don't want to be doing cold anything in 5 years. The networking and referral systems I'm putting in place should take care of that for me.

Dirtbag

Contributor

Inside Sales Representative

29 and going through my 3rd year in sales. It’s a double edged sword being in this field. One side being I can’t imagine doing this for 20 years and on the other the income generated from this work is incomparable. Making it very difficult to make a switch.

One realization I have had through entering sales is my entrepreneurial desires and how much this role parallels with starting and growing any type of business. With that being said, sales is likely a long standing career choice that I won’t steer away from.

Spade

Arsonist

Global Business Development Manager

I'm 27, but I feel 47 with the damn stress

🥃

jjdicaprio

Old School Bravo

VP, Sales

40 here too.

There aren't days that don't go by that I think to myself "I should just go sling software at Salesforce and only worry about myself" but I wouldn't trade leadership for anything.

It's a stressful job for sure and being a VP, Sales is a lifestyle of it's own, but it's afforded my family and I things I could only dream of when I was in my 20's so it's all worth it. Hopefully I can hit another home run or two equity wise and call it a day at 55.

stratman

Politicker

Sales Engineer

Old.

MMMGood

Celebrated Contributor

Senior Account Executive

37 here. I figure I can keep the grind going at least another decade. We'll see where the finances are at that time and what the potential pivot will be.

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

I feel the decade. I have 11 more yrs until we have an empty house so hoping that will lead to something new or something a little slower paced.

MMMGood

Celebrated Contributor

Senior Account Executive

I have 12 more years, at least til my youngest hits college. 🥵

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

34.

The goal is management at small-mid startups to coach their teams through liquidity events, a couple of those flips and all is well.

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

32, been in the game since 24

MrMoneybags

Big Shot

Account Executive

25. the millenium sales guru

SaaSguy

Tycoon

Account Executive

25- a couple years in

Bittersweet0326

Politicker

Digital Business Associate

36 and in my prime baby

Bueller

Politicker

Account Executive

26 but feel like 46 after the last year

Richio

VP employee Benefits

53 and still at it. ADP alum now slinging insurance. Lessoned learned, build a book vs. mo/annual quota. Starting over every year at $0 sucks. Having an existing book of clients makes life much easier.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

That's what I'm worried about! I'm almost 30 and starting to wonder what career change I could possibly get in to and maker $100k plus other than sales without getting another degree.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

ISR

My body: 32. My mind: 14.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

34 in june

SADNES5

Politicker

down voters are marketing spies

I don't feel this old... But almost 40.

GetAHobby

Arsonist

RVP Sales

Just hit 40 myself and still at times act like 25

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

29, I'll be 30 in the fall. :/

Ace

Arsonist

CEO

just turned 29 2 weeks ago!

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GetAHobby

How old are you?

169 comments

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