Thesamiam13x

Sales

I Went Into Sales for the Money...

Im sure Im not the only one that went into sales for money right?

I was making more doing cyber security IT stuff, but I felt like I was at a salary cap and the only way to break through it is to get multiple certs or a 4 year degree. I didnt want to do all that lol.

I took a painful pay cut, invested craploads in myself, jumped in to tech sales. I did have 5 years of sales previously, although it was as a banker and that was before my years of IT experience.

Anyway, now I am trying to work my way up income wise and it kinda sucks right now 😅

🚀 Career Goals

🤓 Sales Tech

✌️ Growing Pains

66 comments

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Boutdamtime

Politicker

Client Executive

I 100% went into sales for the following: the money, to prove the haters wrong, to have more money than everyone who ever underestimated me, and then drink the tears of my haters.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

Damn, chip on your shoulder?

I love it!

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Ha yea that is motivation. I dont have any haters but I do want to provide more for my family.

Boutdamtime

Politicker

Client Executive

You never had anyone doubt your ability?

Big4OutTheDoor

Valued Contributor

Consultant

Hey, are you my long lost twin?

😈

Boutdamtime

Politicker

Client Executive

I’ve always wanted a sibling 😻

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

I'd be shocked to hear someone say they didn't go into sales for the money.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Ha I suppose those that want to score points (on linkedin or with managers) will say something about "I love solving problems and provide people guidance".

Big4OutTheDoor

Valued Contributor

Consultant

“I went into sales for the great WLB and camradarie between colleagues at our 3 week company sponsored team vacations”

😂

Businesscasual

Politicker

Account Executive

The way I see it, there’s usually two reasons you get into sales. You either fall into it after college, or you do it for the money. You’re most definitely not the only one.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

I wish I knew more about tech sales after high school. All I knew back that was car salesmen lol

MoeZ111

Good Citizen

Global Director, Business Development

3 years until 6 figures here as well. 99% of the people on this planet don’t have the grit or the disciple to work for something for three years and have to wait for it. Afterwards it was still work but much easier, because of existing clients, network etc.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Thats true, that's probably why most people fail in sales.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

Don't be ashamed, we all did one way or another.

Swarthymovie

Arsonist

SDR

agree

Beasthouse

Opinionated

Corporate trainer

so have a conversation about review periods with your manager, try to get small raises every 90 days or negotiate at least 6 months for salary increases based on growth over last 90 thus making you your only competition

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

Most are going to say money. I'm in the same boat, I had 5 years of luxury sales before I switched to tech. It took about 2-3 years until 6 figures.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

I was already making a little over 6 figures so it sucks to start over.

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

You'll get back there in a few years or less. Hang in there and stick to the grind! It's a lot of pressure but the reward is unlimited at the end!

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

True, ill suffer for it haha

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

Temporarily, make sure to save/invest your commission checks. Don't use it all on blow and hookers!

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Hard man when im making 40-50% less then before.

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

aw damn, stick it out and job hop if possible for quicker raises. You'll get there.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Ha yea trying to job hop at the moment.

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

Good move!

slaydie

Big Shot

Account Executive

I landed in sales by accident but now the money certainly has a hold on me. I think you should be able to get yourself back to your earnings pre sales in a few years max

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Yea i agree with you there, I see more earning potential.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

Just keep in mind long-term > short-term. I always remind myself it’s a marathon and not a sprint.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

I know but I want to sprint! lol

MontBlanc

Notable Contributor

Senior Account Executive

2-3 years of ramp and you’ll be raking it in, stay patient 😤

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Yup thats the plan for now.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Money. It's always the money. I didn't want to be in sales. Then I met a pharmaceutical rep. Saw the crisp fitted suits and sparkly new cars. I was a goner. 🤷‍♀️

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

lol yea following the greens.

T3Tony

Valued Contributor

Regional Sales MAnager

It's a grind but the moment you have "That one month or quarter" you quickly remember why you choose to join the shit show!

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Hah, problem is, my company doesnt have a get OTE

Bandos

Politicker

Seller Man

Sales is the only job where your input directly correlates to how much you make.... Muhhhhnaayyyy!

harebrained

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

100% for the money... investing it young and should be able to exit the workforce by 40-45 when i'm nice and burned out.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

ha well im in my mid 30s now and start this career all over.

DarraghMackin

Good Citizen

Account Manager

Correct

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Unfortunately you have to go through the sh*t to reach the promise land and the money constantly fluctuates as is the nature of a sales job. The upside is you can entirely control how much more you want to make with commission and you aren’t capped usually.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Hopefully i reach that promise land sooner than later lol

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Amen to that my man, in sales you never really reach the promise land. It’s a quarter at a time and you’re always under the gun. What have you done for me lately really applies here

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Huh what have I done for you lately? Typo? lol

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

No, what I’m saying is sales is a game where you are constantly getting asked what have you done for upper management lately ie what I’ve you sold and your laurels don’t matter. So the promised land is never that great and gets reset each month/quarter

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Ahh ok i see what you're saying.

Beasthouse

Opinionated

Corporate trainer

here's the thing 10000 hours is a good standard to expect consistent earnings of over 100 k, either in sales or through formal IT work either way its gunna cost you 10000 hours. sales has higher potential but it requires constant permeant effort either your skills massively increase or your volume either way more effort. in IT you can eventually get to a level where you are paid for your expertise and services but you will always be on call and will eventually hit a cap.

owning your own company is the end result of both career paths if you ever want to exceed 100k with less energy output. so really the time frame is the same you can make more in sales but holy eff effort.

i recommend getting good enough to teach and then create multiple streams of income.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Thanks for that input! I was in IT for about 5 years when I hit that 100k mark with no degree, then I stayed for another 3 years after that. Now that I switched back into sales I'm making 40-50% less. My OTE sucks compared to what I see out in the marketplace.

Even though I have multiple years of sales experience, I still have a little bit ways to go in the tech sale space.

Beasthouse

Opinionated

Corporate trainer

yea and you are not exactly hitting the golden years of tech sales hahah

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Ha yea sometimes I feel like its a mistake but in the long run it will be better for sure.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

Everyone goes into sales for the income. However, the real success happens once you understand the importance of the role in taking a client from where they are to where they need to be. As Zig Ziglar preached: "They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Sales skills are life skills and that is why I truly LOVE sales.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Oh thats a good one. True, sales is all about the service you provide to your customer.

Swarthymovie

Arsonist

SDR

A lot of us sold our soul to the devil for the money i think lol

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Haha, that might be true.

Swarthymovie

Arsonist

SDR

lol xD

eds

Opinionated

Salesy

sales = revenue, its the department closes to the blood life of a company. You made a great choice, crack the code and you'll never look back

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Thanks man! I am still in search of that code. I know I will find it one of these days!

JustGonnaSendIt

Politicker

Burn Towns, Get Money

I got into sales by accident honestly. Started as a Recruiter after bailing on Engineering / Supply Chain and discovered a love for applying my interest in how things work to help generate revenue and make customers happy.

Then I got a taste for the commission and I won't go back to salary + praying for a bonus.

Took me ~3 years for my first 6-figure year after getting in to the game. Now I've pulled down 6-figures every year for the last 6. My current goal is breaking 250K / year without a major whale event.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Danm nice man and thanks for your story on how you got there. Enterprise AE would be my long term goal.

JustGonnaSendIt

Politicker

Burn Towns, Get Money

You got this!

The big gap lots of reps fall into trying to make the jump from an inside role or territory role to Enterprise is the Strategic / Lateral thinking.

If you aspire to be an Enterprise rep, make it your mission to understand not just your product and it's value prop, but actually how your customers businesses run and what THEIR value prop is.

When you unlock the magic of helping them improve THEIR sales pitch with what you're selling, you get the attention of the big titles and the big signing authority that comes with it.

Then figure out how they actually make decisions as a business and become their helper in getting your preferred projects approved. Build PPT's for them if you have to. Help your buyer's political clout and it becomes to an extent your clout as well.

Don't get stymied by a Manager, Director, VP. Get to the Sr. Execs. Understand their long-term (2 - 5 year) plans. Align your offering with those plans.

Also recognize that Big C titles either last 1-3 years, or they hang on for a looooong time. Figure out which you're talking to and plan / network accordingly.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Thanks man definitely great information!

I just started this inside role coming from a BDR, kind sucks because the company I am at, its consider a lateral move and my income decreases a little.

I need to land another AE role at a different company but its pretty tough to find something, a lot of the roles I see want at least 3 years of AE experience. I dont want to stick around this company that long.

JustGonnaSendIt

Politicker

Burn Towns, Get Money

I would encourage you to apply anyway. Most employers will take a good candidate with less experience. Particularly now when it's hard to find salespeople.

If they are putting 3 years in the job req, they will likely take 18 months just as easily.

Spend some time thinking about your 'story' of why you have the chops and the grit to take on the challenge.

Twice in my career I have snagged jobs without enough time-based experience mostly by focusing on what value I could bring. You'll find most reps with experience prefer to talk about their past success, not what they plan to do to succeed in the future. Focus on the latter. Although some discussion of your past results is clearly needed.

Think of it this way - do you really want just any AE job? Just to get the title? Or do you want a role where you can learn and grow your skills?

If you want to learn and grow, finding a manager that hires based on character and opportunity VS past achievements is the better path anyway.

Thesamiam13x

Celebrated Contributor

Sales

Well i hope youa're right about sales people being hard to find. I have seen roles on LinkedIn where there are hundreds of applicants.

I suppose finding that right manager that hires based on character is hard to find.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

I 100% went into sales for the following: the money, to prove the haters wrong, to have more money than everyone who ever underestimated me, and then drink the tears of my haters.

Error32

Politicker

ISR

Imagine selling staffing. I can do my job 100% of the way, get open positions with the best possible terms, and then if my recruiters can’t deliver it means absolutely nothing. We’re selling a product that can tell us no.

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Thesamiam13x

I Went Into Sales for the Money...

66 comments

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