Fletch profile picture
Fletch profile picture

Fletch

Full-Time AE/Side-Hustle Owner

Opinionated
Contributor
Fire Starter
+1

I'm so tired...

You don't have to read this. This is mostly just my rambling. My girlfriend doesn't get it so hopefully someone can relate.


I've been in sales for the past four and a half years, and I've done pretty well for myself... But I'm exhausted.


Since April of 2020, my trajectory has been as follows:


Laid off from an AE position due to covid. This was after being recruited to this company with a hefty raise.


Within a month, started a company and started selling again.


Did that for 8 months, but wasn't making enough money, so took the first AE job I could find with decent base pay.


Was 160% to goal my first month closing deals. Manager asked why I didn't make it to 200% and pissed me off. Ended up yelling at me for poor metrics after that and I got nervous/angry. Jumped to a different position with higher base pay.


Terrible company (I know it probably sounds like I'm blaming everyone but myself, but it was really bad). Ended up being discriminated against based on physical disabilities and put on a 4 day PIP with insane metrics. Filed a complaint to HR and was fired two weeks later.


Took an SDR position at a company ( high base pay for SDR work, only reason I took it) with literally no effective sales ops team. No support from above, tech stack doesn't really work any the answer to any questions I ask are "That's a good question, I've never thought about that." The AEs can't close for shit, and no two people can agree on anything. My manager reached out to me about my metrics for the day but honestly, I just didn't have it in me to prospect/dial. There's no point if I'm just going to have to jump again.


This isn't counting relationship issues, family issues, loneliness from being stuck at home for the past two years, the physical issues that stem from my previously mentioned discrimination, and just an all-around feeling of sucking. I've skipped friends' weddings, social gatherings, and I don't feel like I'm really in a place to be of decent help to anyone.


I don't want to work tomorrow. I don't want to prospect, I don't want to "smile and dial". I don't want to sweet talk someone to hopefully book a meeting just to have to fight with an AE on what's qualified so I can make an extra $250. This should be the easiest job in the world. It should be absolute cake. But I feel like I've screwed the pooch already... and I don't care.


I don't know if it's the fact that I've been WFH for the past year and a half or just my mindset. But I'm so tired and I don't know what to do. I know full well that this is my best chance to make an above-livable salary (No college degree), but I just would rather go do anything else right now.


TLDR: I'm tired. Sorry. I'll be more positive tomorrow.


P.S. I don't care to get in a WFH vs. office debate. But for those of you who have gone from home back to the office recently... Did it help? My employer is trying to force us into a WeWork, and I'm continually saying no... But maybe it would help?



๐Ÿฑ Off-Topic
๐Ÿ™ Mental Wellness
๐Ÿš€ Career Goals
16

14 comments

Sort by:
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
9
โ˜•๏ธ
First off, I want to say I have been where you are often in my career. It's often not the job itself, nor the company, but my mental state and lack of healthy outlets for my anxiety and depression. It sounds like @Incognitoย is advocating for therapy, and you've already begun that process--but here is a shocking truth: we are never as honest with ourselves or our therapists as we think we are. The moment you let go of the fear of saying all the shit you keep in reserve is the moment you will feel like you are making lasting progress.

During early COVID I started to become a bitter, shitty human being. My wife forced me to sit down and write out why I felt the way I did, combined with therapy, and it helped. The fix for me? I rekindled my love for mountain biking, a hobby that gets me outside and interacting with human beings while doing something I LOVE. I realized that my job was there to enable this activity; i.e. the money I make at work lets me enter races, upgrade my bike,ย  travel to new trail systems, etc. Work became the enabler to my happiness, rather than the deterrent.

While I cannot say that going into an office will make you (or me) feel happier, I can say that human contact outside of work has made me a happier, more fulfilled human.

Last thing I'll say: this is a bump in the long, long road that is your career. Jumping might feel like the easy solution, but constructively and candidly addressing the issues may be a long-term solution to enjoying what you do.
Incognito
WR Officer
3
Master of Disaster
Yes to all of this.ย 
Incognito
WR Officer
4
Master of Disaster
Fletch
Opinionated
3
Full-Time AE/Side-Hustle Owner
I do have a therapist. Heโ€™s been moderately helpful. Iโ€™m too new to take time off unfortunately.ย 
Also, sorry about your insomnia. I have family members that struggle with it and it sucks.
Incognito
WR Officer
5
Master of Disaster
Sorry, I deleted my comment by accident!

Sounds like you have a lot going on. When I get like that, it helps to have the mindset of โ€œone foot in front of the otherโ€; as in, literally just do the tasks required of you, step by step. Try to remove the emotions attached to them, and just look at them as they need to be done and there is no alternative so why waste energy getting upset about it.ย 

Think about it like needing to shovel snow from a driveway in a blizzard. You sure as fuck donโ€™t want to go outside in those miserable conditions, but if you donโ€™t the city is gonna give you a fine and grandma is gonna slip and fall when she visits in the morning. Also shoveling snow sucks. But being annoyed isnโ€™t gonna make it stop snowing. So get dressed, go outside, and literally one foot in front of the other until it is finished.ย 
kachow
Good Citizen
4
SMB Account Executive
First thing I wanna say is youโ€™re not alone. Along with the end of the year approaching and seasonal depression since itโ€™s dark at 4pm, I get it.
It seems like thereโ€™s a lot youโ€™re juggling right now. The Burnt Out article @Incognito suggested checkin out personally helped me out. As did signing up for Bravado Jobs. Doesnโ€™t hurt to look for something new while you try to sort through it.
I know itโ€™s hard to stay positive, but donโ€™t feel like you have to say sorry for feeling burnt out. We all are in some level, letโ€™s find some way to work things out cause thereโ€™s definitely much better things in your future.
Mjollnir
Politicker
3
Account Executive
sorry you feel that way.ย 
it'll be ok eventually. <3
CharmingSalesGal
Politicker
2
Account Executive
I will say, I have been hybrid for a few months and I do think it's helped quite a bit- social interaction is good for the soul!
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
๐ŸฆŠ
Sweetie. I feel ya. I hear you, and I see you. โคโคโค
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
Sorry to hear what you're going through. Many of us have lived/are living the same life but trying to get better every day.ย 

Try to take some vacay off and think what you wan to do. Take up a hobby that can distract you whenever you're stressed. Don't sweat it and give a f** to people coming your way to demotivate you. Ultimately, you need to control yourself as it's you who can make yourself happy/sad.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
This is gut-wrenching to read.ย  ย  I'm responding here to provide support and let you know you are certainly not alone.ย  ย I've found that just managing to work through a task list and check things off that need to be done gets me through a day, and sometimes it is literally one hour, one day at a time.ย  ย 
DataSlangah
Politicker
1
SAE
This is heartbreaking to read because it hits so close to home.ย  I think that you really need to sit down and evaluate if you really want to be in sales, if I can be frank.ย  Sales is a hard fucking job, and that is why salespeople make a good living.ย  Based on 4.5 years of a career it sounds as if you've been miz for most of it.ย  It also sounds like you aren't tied down as of yet.ย  It will only get exponentially harder when you get a wife, kids, and a mortgage.ย  My advice is evaluate what you want to do with your life, and pursue what makes you happy while you are young enough to make a change.ย  Being a salesperson for the money is a terrible reason, BTW.ย  ย 
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
1
sales
Seek therapy first, itโ€™s not a dirty word. Society should be more accepting, itโ€™s important. Change is hard and youโ€™ve had a lot, but self care and mental well being lead the body. BetterHelp is the first one that comes to mind but there are others out there that will let you seek help and build back healthy brain patterns that will allow you to plot a path forward and make decisions with your brain clear instead of foggy with burnout and confusion.
Here for you if you ever wanna chat about nothing. Hope you pull through and take the steps you need to get back to your normal self. Love ya.
GDO
Politicker
1
BDM
This is all about your mental health. I do not think itโ€™s the job. But the job is worse if your not in the right state of mind. If possible please see a doctor.ย 
Fletch
Opinionated
0
Full-Time AE/Side-Hustle Owner
Just wanted to double back to thank everyone for their responses. That day was a particularly rough day. But the days following it have been much better, due in large part to the kindness and encouragement I've received from this post. With all sincerity: thank you.ย 

Related posts

21
Members only
Deal Story
CCISAP closed Radisson for $1M to the IT department
Radisson has been a two year long client, we were able to renew and grow the account to support their entire SAP landscape globally in this renewal. We have been helping the USA Hotel team the last t...
Say congrats!
Ma
Ca
Fe
+20
34
Members only
Deal Story
fuzzy closed a deal for $1.2M
Built an entirely new line of business that will generate $1.2m net in Q3 and potential for $2m in Q4. This new line of business capitalizes on existing user base and entices even more customers with ...
Say congrats!
Ma
Ca
Fe
+26
Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.
Apple Store logo
Products
The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U
Company
About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty
Contact
Press Careers
ยฉ 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs
If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.