McSaasy

Peasant Salesman

Sales veterans, what would you do?

Been at my latest company for a bit over a year now. Layoffs via bullshit PIPs are rampant and likely to happen more going into the new year. Despite all this, I've managed to be 400% to annual quota......yep 400. My revenue is 4x the next best rep and 15x more than the average. Yeah, that bad.

I'm a Mid Market AE and was recently passed for promotion while others were promoted to enterprise.

I refuse to kiss ass and brown nose to get ahead. I have a get-it-done attitude and will find a way to win business and new accounts. I don't drink the 'kool-aid' if it tastes like shit though and I'll call out bad leadership practices.

Anyone have similar experience with this at all and have advice?

🧠 Advice

20 comments

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DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

400%?? That is incredible, congratulations on your achievement. Especially this year.
It's a tough environment out there, but if you have the chops to hit those kinds of numbers, I would absolutely be looking around for a company that values your contribution.
Perhaps you were passed over because they don't want to lose you in the midmarket space. I've seen this happen with SDRs who are adept at getting meetings, because they are hard to replace.
Which sucks when you've earned your spot.

SaaSsy

Politicker

Yea damnnn good for you 👏🏼 my thought exactly, maybe you’re too good to lose, which is shitty. Did you get any feedback about why you were passed over? I would demand that and then make a decision to leave or ride it out.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Feedback would be very beneficial here, if you can get it.

McSaasy

Good Citizen

Peasant Salesman

My next step exactly. I’m hoping they will confirm they don’t want to lose a strong rep on that team. I’m fine with that as long as compensation reflects my work this year. If not, I’ll take my customers with me

GingerBarbarian

Opinionated

Lead Sales

I see this all the time too, but there is a major issue with the SDR>AE promotion track in my mind.

To me, SDRs are hunters by nature. AEs are farmers.

Just because you are good at hunting does not always mean you are good at long term nurturing and vice-versa.

SDRs tend to need to use more high-pressure tactics while AEs need a much softer touch.

Demonstrate both. Nurture your own past customers. Gain referrals from the people you have gotten appointments from. Show you can be the nurturer too!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Are you looking for other jobs? I sure as shit would be. You are worth so much more. ❤🦊

McSaasy

Good Citizen

Peasant Salesman

I’ve been scouted heavily this year and have quite a few places I could jump to if needed. It’s one of those grass is greener scenarios though (aren’t they all). My company has roots in the industry and is top 3 globally. But across the pasture I can get a $50k bump in base but in a lesser known org. I’m the sole provider for my household so making jumps for the “new shiny thing” can hurt bad

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

You got passed up for promotion for the same reason I did a few years ago - they want you selling. Plain and simple. Why promote you when you are so much more valuable selling? Anyone can be a Sales Manager. Not everyone can sell.

So you could take it as a compliment, I guess.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

exactly. Some people may not understand how business works and get upset when they don't "get the promotion". Not saying that is the case here, but I have had it happen to me a few times and I have seen it dozens more. This is like taking your best BDR and making them an AE, now you have to hire to replace that BDR which could take a while AND you have to train that new AE, which could or couldn't actually be a good fit.

AlwaysBeHunting

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

I thought @McSaaSy said they were passed up for a Mid Market AE to Enterprise AE promotion. Maybe I’m misunderstanding. Either way it looks like they are keeping them in MM because they’d rather be winning then lose a good thing. Remember managers make money when reps sell and reps also make managers look good to their boss when it comes time for their promotion discussion.

I’d ask for feedback and then worst case you can look and take the pay raise. I’m a provider too. No risk, no reward my friend.

GingerBarbarian

Opinionated

Lead Sales

Anyone can be a sales manager but only because most sales managers suck at what they are supposed to be doing, which is training and coaching sales people. Knowing how to sell and knowing how to teach are very different skill sets.

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Just keep you head down and keep crushing quota. The right opportunity will come along evantually. But you're probably making bank where you are now so why rock the boat?

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Focus on what you are doing. As your hit crazy numbers they don’t want you to lose that spot for how.

dealdaddy87

CEO & Founder

That's amazing performance.

Best advise, whenever you feel like you're not getting treated right in any high-paying job, go talk to recruiters, maybe even take some interviews.

You can't negotiate without leverage and having other/better options is the ultimate leverage.

I'm not saying go and strong-arm a promotion, but you should be able to have a serious conversation with your management team about your career development.

ChumpChange

Politicker

Channel Manager

I would schedule some 1/1 time with your superior and let them know what your career ambitions are and the steps that would be needed to get there. If they give you the run around... time to get the resume tuned up.

GTMLeader

Good Citizen

GTM Leader

^^^^ This. You state, "I refuse to kiss ass and brown nose to get ahead." Leadership may have a different view of this, or maybe not. People can SWAG while you aren't moving forward, but your leadership can only tell you their view.

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

Account Executive

I have a similar attitude without those kind of numbers to back it up but my volume if output is rarely matched.

out of my 15+ years in sales, one of my main takeaways is being good at playing office politics always gets you further ahead than doing the real work. It’s a depressing realization which is why I’m considering a pivot into sales ops, personally.

GingerBarbarian

Opinionated

Lead Sales

Can I offer a counterpoint? Most of the best salespeople are not great as managers.

Look at it like this. The best coaches in the world help people focus on the ONE THING that will make the biggest difference. The best salespeople in the world are accustomed to juggling a million things at once in their head.

This happens in sports too. Isiah Thomas, Teddy Williams, Wayne Gretzky, Mike Singletary, and many more amazing players were sub-par team builders.

Meanwhile position players who may not have even played professionally are often among the top coaches of all time. In the NBA alone, if you look at any top coaches list odds are only Larry Brown ever made an All star game.

Be proud of what you accomplished, and have an honest conversation about why you were passed up. I have known many great salespeople who HATED being promoted because it took them away from what they did best; sell!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

1.) congratulations on your revenue achievement and the success you have had and will continue to have.
2.) the title and move to Enterprise while it may be nice could bring in challenges such as slower deal velocity. Longer sales cycles and a change in pipeline development where as you could likely make more continuing to do what you are doing now
3.) fear of the unknown is always going to be here. A 50k pay bump at the new company with less toxicity could be great.

I am also the sole breadwinner and provided I speak to my wife before any final decisions are made it usually works out.

unclespacejam

Politicker

ur dad’s brother

Fuck em. Keep your head down and get paid. Wipe your tears with those benjies 🤝🤝🤝

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McSaasy

Sales veterans, what would you do?

20 comments

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