RandyLahey

Account Executive

Acclaimed Answer

Valued Contributor

Morality in sales

Happy Friday fellow savages.

TL:DR - Should I sell to an organization that goes against my deepest principles?

I'll try to keep this as vague as possible to avoid a political discussion.

I was assigned an Account today from our web chat team.

It's an non-profit organization that is rather notorious where I live. They advocate for something that goes against my deepest principles.

Selling our solution to them would allow them to operate in a much more efficient manner, likely aiding them to achieve their goals.

I'm weary of moral grandstanding; this just happens to be one of those few issues that crosses a line in the sand for me.

I'm fucking struggling with what I should do. Part of me says if you don't sell to them, either someone else on your team or a competitor will.

The other part says great; let me them do it. Stand by your principles.

The latter, opting for the high road, has cost me dearly in this sales career. In fact, at my last role, it contributed to the loss an account that greatly affected my numbers. I was laid off a few short months later.

Need some direct feedback here. Am I being naïve?

Should I sell to an organization that goes against my deepest principles?

Attached poll

Yes; if you don't, someone else will. No. Stand by your principles.

*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.

34

58 comments

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Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

18

ERP Sales

To quote Omar from The Wire, "A man got to have a code"

I would give it to another rep on your team, get brownie points from them. And just be transparent with your manager, saying you do not align with that non-profit's values.

How many accounts do you have also? Is it a large % of your territory or listed as an A account? Maybe you can do some kind of trade where you can another account so your numbers dont take a dive

RandyLahey

Politicker

6

Account Executive

It has whale potential, but my pipeline is gucci for next quarter and im on track for 120% this quarter with two weeks left.

Love that gif brother, what a show.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

5

ERP Sales

See if you can split the commish if you give ownership to someone else.

CoolHandLuke412

Member

1

Enterprise AE

You can't split commish if it truly goes against your values. That's putting a price on your values.
Too many have lost too much trying to "dance with the devil in the pale moonlight"

PaulFromNoWhere

Personal Narrative

2

BDR

If it's money that will change your life, or money you really need, debatable. Can do a lot of good with life changing money and no one can hold doing what you have to do against you.

If it's just gonna be another commission check, the weird feels will last longer than the money. I know I can make it somewhere else, so I'd probably try to wash my hands of it. This is one of those Death of a Salesman dilemmas.

Success/Principle

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I ended up selling it, and it ended up pushing me to the top 5 in Quota achievement.

But yeah...I don't feel amazing either.

DCAE

0

Account Executive

Give a chunk or all of the commish from the sale to an organization that works on the issues that this client is working against.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Love the character. So sad that Michael Kenneth Williams is gone.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

2

ERP Sales

The wire lost two great actors recently with Lance Reddick also

Irishman

Catalyst

3

Business Consultant

Can't believe they are gone - such talented guys

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

That too. What a shock that was.

Maximas

Tycoon

-2

Senior Sales Executive

100% agree!

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

9

☕️

If it’s the RNC or related groups, then sell it and leave a back door to tear it down.

Politicize me, idgafos.

RandyLahey

Politicker

5

Account Executive

I like your style.

jefe

Arsonist

9

🍁

Stand by your principles.

I've said no to leads from companies that don't align with my moral code. Someone else can do that shit, but it's not going to be me.

Edited to add: @Kosta_Konfuciusgot it completely fucking right.

RandyLahey

Politicker

4

Account Executive

Right? This one’s just against my code man.

oldcloser

Arsonist

6

💀

I think you've answered your own question out loud here. Only thing I would suggest is to get ALL of the money. Better than a competitor taking some of it.

You can puke privately on the way out.

RandyLahey

Politicker

4

Account Executive

Yeah...I don't think I would have such pause if it wasn't so viscerally personal. I'll use the commission money for good causes...right Closer?

oldcloser

Arsonist

3

💀

I totally relate. Whatever straightens your moral compass. This one can be a bitch.

punishedlad

Tycoon

4

Regional Partnership Manager

This is tough and really depends on how you think it'd go over internally. Given your previous experience, I understand your hesitation. I've handed off accounts in the past where I wasn't comfortable pursuing them myself. For me it was the parent company for a certain purveyor of *ahem* adult videography. My manager was understanding.

RandyLahey

Politicker

3

Account Executive

Yeah...this isn't say as 'graphic' but just cuts so deep.

I have a feeling I would close it, grow it, it would help my numbers...but I would have this uneasy feeling inside.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

4

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

If they pay their bills, sell to them.

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Someone else will right...

HVACexpert

Politicker

4

sales engineer

It’s hard to separate church and state sometimes. But you got bills to pay and family to take care of. Selling to them doesn’t devalue your principles, you can still stand up for what you believe in other ways.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

4

🦊

Are you in danger of missing quota or losing your job?

RandyLahey

Politicker

2

Account Executive

Nope…110% this Q with two weeks left, pipe is good for next quarter. This would help, but there’s a path without it.

4

Account Manager

Maybe I have no moral compass after reading these comments but what is the problem? It is your job to make sales, why even look at the company in that manner? You not making the sale is not going to ruin them.

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

You raise an entirely valid point

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

He’ll ya - take their money!

SaaSyBee

Politicker

2

Founder

Enjoy taking their money. Bleed em dry if you hate em.

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Yeah...the money will be going somewhere won't it.

Justatitle

Big Shot

2

Account Executive

Here's the thing, if a competitor is going to sell them and make money on them why not you? It's not like you are aiding them and if it's not you it will be someone else. Money over everything except family.

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Yeah. After much debate, I'm just going to sell it to them and wipe my tears with the commission money.

Justatitle

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

I'm super curious who it is you are selling to and if you want shoot me a DM, promise not to dox

2

Missionary @ Mezzetti Construction

I said no to certain countries when I sold aircraft parts from 2016-2019-I didn't want to go to prison and I can now sleep pretty soundly at night

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Damn, that’s certainly FAR more justification than my moral qualms. Glad you made it through.

JMSwiggidy

Politicker

2

Enterprise Account Executive

I try to keep personal feelings or opinions out of my work environment. At the end of the day, business is business. Some people can separate, some can’t; we are all different, so maybe you’re more morally driven than I am.

Personally, I’m in Sales for one overarching reason - for the money. My thoughts - if I don’t close it, someone else will. Like others have said, maybe work out a commission split or something similar where you can still benefit. It is important to stick to your morals, but if you can, try and remove opinions/ego/moral/other inhibitors from business. Not saying that approach is for everyone, but it’s definitely helped me in the long run.

I then proceed to puke privately or rant or whatever other therapeutic release I need lol.

RandyLahey

Politicker

2

Account Executive

That’s so well put.

Update: I sold it. Pushed me over a certain quota tier too.

Life in the NFL.

salesguy13

Contributor

2

Director of Sales Development

ya man, that's a hard no from me.

this is what separates us from animals, choices. the next question i'd ask yourself, how does this company interact with your company's values? some companies don't give a shit.

others have strong moral compasses. if your company has a published value set that this non profit goes against, it might be a good test to bring this to the attention of your leadership team.

a lot of people get by with 'it's just a job' - but that quickly becomes a slippery slope.

i know i personally only like working at companies whose value i align with... makes it easier to sell their shit.

jbusiness

Catalyst

2

Sales Manager

Take the sale. Use 1/2 the commission for yourself. Donate the other half to another non-profit that works against them.
Using the money you make from them against them seems like the best way to keep your moral code intact.

SerialBiller

Executive

2

Enterprise Account Executive

Can’t see the questions in the thread

“what makes you think you are right about your beliefs against their values?”

“Why are your beliefs more important than their values?”

“Are your beliefs concrete in evidence? Or just your own world view?”

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

2

Account Executive

Your morals won’t change the world. They’ll burn you when things aren’t working out.

tough call? Nah. Sell them anything you can. If you can sell it for 10x more, do that!!

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

I did.

I sold it.

Then upsold it.

Then bought some nice Bourbon with my commission money.

2

Senior Exhibit Consultant

Life is too short to sell something and feel horrible about it. Pass it on to someone else and move on to another opportunity that brings you joy.

RandyLahey

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Welcome to the War Room Heather!

So I sold it to this individual, and really did not feel great after.

It contributed to me having a fantastic quarter, and the commission felt nice. But yeah, I don’t feel great about it…

1

Senior Exhibit Consultant

The right answer was whatever you felt was right. So, good for you! We will all be in different stages of our careers, and mind-sets. I will pass on a project if the client is a constant jerk...but maybe I wouldn't have 10 years ago. Its a bit like dating. You learn what you can put up with and what you can't. =)

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Thinking back to a time when I was a much younger bunny, working as a food server in a town known for tourists. Slow shift after lunch, a Ferrari pulls up, two men come in. They weren’t totally over the top, but obviously had an enormous amount of money at their disposal. They were very decent to wait on, and I thought nothing of it until a local newsroom called to ask if a very well known mobster from back East was in the restaurant, and the penny dropped. After we told the newsroom “they just left” (which may or may not have been true), I was given an incredibly generous tip. As I walked up to the bar with the C note between my thumb and index figure, I looked at my bartender and said “blood money!” He looked at me, shrugged, and said “spends the same”.

Obviously I’ve never forgotten those words or the event. And I remember that even as now I’m in a sales cycle with a company whose large parent corp is one I have huge problems with. Same thing: my solution will make them very much more efficient and effective. You know what I’ve done? Marked up the rate. I’m either going to take some money back from them, or I lose it and oh well.

I’d be torn too - but you gotta eat.

Beans

Big Shot

1

Enterprise Account Executive

Make the close and donate the commish to something directly opposing them.

adman

Opinionated

1

Senior Account Executive

Sales is just a job so I personally don't put too much weight into who I sell.

BostonBoss

Big Shot

1

Head of Revenue

If you have principles, which is so rare in this profession, then I think you also know there is a higher kind of commission. I don't think you're being naive.

I remember once I was directly told to blatantly lie to a prospect while I was on the phone (My manager was listening to the call live). I refused to give in to those kinds of tactics. After I got off the phone, my very pissed manager got 2 feet from my face and told me "This company is not going to cater to your fu***** morality."

Unlike you, I was not sitting pretty for the quarter but thankfully I had almost a full quarter to kill it. I hit Presidents' Club that quarter and then I quit. I believe in something higher than just high commission checks :)

RelationshipMaker

Opinionated

1

Head of Sales

Putting it simply, I love taking money from those that I despise. Do you only sell to clients that you like?
This will test you as a salesperson and you'll be better off for it.

Daedalos

Tycoon

1

AE / BDRM

Only if your product sucks and it will lowkey sabotage them. Jk (maybe not).

But on a serious note, as @Kosta_Konfuciusmentioned,

"A man got to have a code". You definitely get extra points for having a spine, helping a teammate that has no issue with selling to them + maybe getting a trad for an account you like more.

1

Director of Commerce Sales

Couldn't agree more than a man got to have a code. The man in the mirror is the barometer of our decisions.

pirate

Big Shot

1

Account Executive

I think if you have the opportunity (your doing well and don't need this account) then always fight for your principles. Picking a side is noble.

Austin

Celebrated Contributor

0

O&G O.G. - Sales Mgr. - NCSA

Nah. Fuck them. Way more people to serve with your skill set and service.

Austin

Celebrated Contributor

1

O&G O.G. - Sales Mgr. - NCSA

And to the notion that “if I don’t help them someone else will…” fuck that noise too.

Let someone with less scruples serve a twisted cause. Maybe they’ll thrive. Maybe nothing will happen.

Regardless - if you stay out, you don’t have it on your conscience.

MoltisantiCapital

Opinionated

0

Storage Portfolio Account Executive

Sell and make your money and leave your morals at home. Its a cold ugly world we live in but if its between you making the money and someone else….its gotta be you

RelationshipMaker

Opinionated

0

Head of Sales

Putting it simply, I love taking money from those that I despise.
Do you only sell to those clients that you like?

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