Nairobi

Thinking of burning my first bridge tomorrow. Need your advice.

So I am a real believer in never burning bridges, but tomorrow might be the day.

I quit my job today, but tomorrow will be my last day. I did it very nicely. I went ahead and conducted a zoom call with my COO first and then my CEO, who are my "managers" (I'm at a tiny startup). After talking to them, I volunteered to create a guide for the next BDR, which they agreed to. But I just learned that they will not pay me the entire commission because I didn't meet my metrics which I never had any metrics in the first place! Since I got there, the COO (my direct manager) was more focused on us getting the messaging right/sales strategies, and lately, he came up with some metrics for Q3...

Should I still write a guide for them? If not, I'm sure that will be burning a bridge which I'm okay with at this point.

😤 Conflict Resolution

🧠 Advice

46 comments

Sort by:

paddy

WR Officer

Director of Business Development

Get your full commish or zero guide for them. That's it. No room for negotiation.

InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

I'm on team full commish or nothing.

I accept one of their firstborn sons or 3 goats and a potbelly pig as well.

Ozz

Politicker

Account Executive

Yeah, I would negotiate the full commission for the guide. Sounds petty on their side or they're broke.

Nairobi

Politicker

I think it’s both tbh I know they don’t have money since they can’t make any sales. And I know they are petty because I didn’t say I would stay for 2 weeks...

Nairobi

Politicker

That’s what I thought, thanks!

Jbeans

Opinionated

Director of Sales

Agreed. That’s some kind of bs right there. No money, no guide. What’s it worth to them will be revealed! Good luck!

uncorpse

Politicker

Sales Development

Literally, cut off now.

alecabral

Arsonist

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

Not sure that's a huge bridge you'd be burning, given that they seem comfortable not paying you money you think they should be paying you. Quick one: are you 100% sure you were entitled, by the commissions rule they gave you (whatever those were) when you signed up for your job? If you are, and they are not paying, I'd use that and if they are ok, then I'd go ahead and write that guide.

Nairobi

Politicker

Well the job offer says that I would get paid a commission based on my performance. But I never got any metrics for my few months with them. We never ever talked about performance. All they kept saying is that I was doing great... and they came up with some new metrics lately saying that these were my metrics from the beginning like wtf...

alecabral

Arsonist

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

Imo they won’t be happy paying..so up to you. I would just walk away probably…

Nairobi

Politicker

I know, and I was thinking the same just because they are not worth my time.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

Save everything you have in writing/screenshots/whatever of them discussing commission and handover.

Make handover doc, password protect, exchange password for owed commissions. If the doesn't work, find a lawyer and get them to send a letter. Most often a threat will work.

My old CEO burned bridges with the way they treated my exit and non-delivery of owed bonuses, I did nothing and wish I did. Jerk is now liking my linkedin posts, business is weird.

Nairobi

Politicker

Got it, thanks! What kind of lawyer do I need for this?

Sorry that you went through this as well. It’s unreal to me the lack of professionalism from their part... and they are CEOs...

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

Employment lawyer. There are usually free ones that are state-funded, but mostly for workers being taken advantage of. A student or law clerk may also be able to draft something for much less.

My old boss was an employment lawyer and he thought he was better than he was. The crazy thing about law is it is never about who is right, it is about who argues the better case. Most lawyers I've dealt with rule via fear and intimidation vs. actual action.

Nairobi

Politicker

Good to know! I’ll look into it, thanks!

someoneinsales

Tycoon

Director of Sales

Negotiate!

Mention how you are happy to go out of your way to ensure the next person in has a good foundation to work off, however, you feel that you have gone above and beyond expectation and deserve to be paid the commission you earned. If it is an issue to pay our the commission then respectfully say that you won't have the time to create the guide.

Nairobi

Politicker

I did, and all they are willing to give me is 10% on my commission... I showed them that even with their new crazy metrics, I achieved 40% of it, but they don’t care...

someoneinsales

Tycoon

Director of Sales

Is 10% worth the amount of work you will have to put in (time and energy) to create the guide? If so, maybe take it, thank them and don't look back. If it is not worth it and you are off to a better place, respectfully decline and get excited about your new adventure.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

They can take the 10% and stick it up their asses, frankly. They're showing that they don't value you. Don't waste time going and above and beyond.

Nairobi

Politicker

Yes, it’s not worth it at all. I’m off to a better place so I really couldn’t care less about those guys. They’ll probably fail in a few years anyways.

Nairobi

Politicker

Amen! You are right, it would be a waste of time for me.

NoSuperhero

Politicker

BDR LEAD

Let them know that your time, just like theirs is valuable. I'd suggest you take that manual you're making and use it for your next job interview.

Nairobi

Politicker

I didn’t think about that, thanks! But I don’t know if I’ll need it though. I already got a new opportunity.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

I had a similar experience leaving the start-up I worked at. I had over $3000 in commission that I closed (Signed PO’s) but our company hadn’t received funds yet. Upon my exit, they told me they couldn’t pay me those commissions even though I closed the deals. It still pisses me off to this day seeing I was the 4th employee hired and put in over 3 years with them.

Nairobi

Politicker

Similar situation, I’m supposed to get 5k for the meetings I booked, but they only want to give me 1k. And I’m the 4th employee hired, everybody left and now I understand why...

ppg

Catalyst

All around good guy

Detective same here, almost two years with a company, closed 45K sales in my last 3 weeks with them WHILE training the new guy, and no commissions as the deals were closed, but the funds not in.

they also burned bridges with me, I left working my full 3 weeks closing my last 15K on my last day and barely just a thanks on the way out.

finally got paid my November to April commissions in June… fuck em.

0cool

Opinionated

Partnership Manager

Bridges like many other things are rebuildable. Not sure what state your in but have this on your mind anything guide that you write for them is company property so I would consider writing it but not handing it over without the commission being paid. I would actually publish it online if you believe that it could be useful to some other sales people and then give it over to them dated with the day after you publish. Like that they will not be able to say that they wrote it. If you believe that commission is owed then fight for your 40%.

Nairobi

Politicker

I was thinking about this too. The guide is more related to that company specifically. I’m going to give it another try today because I did way more than any other of their past employees.

youKNOW

Politicker

Sales Manager

I'd find out what they legally owe you and hold them to that. F*ck making the manual for them.

Nairobi

Politicker

They told me they are not legally obligated to give me anything... but I don’t know how to find out if that’s true

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

Don't burn your bridges. Do the guide but don't waste too much time on it. You never know who they might know and their world is small. Emotions are raw because this is still fresh. It sucks but will you still be feeling this wat 10 years from now and you're in a better place?

Nairobi

Politicker

I mean I know it’s a small world but like the chances I run into them are close to 0. But I understand your point. Thanks!

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

Your frustrations are valid. However, if they're the CEO/COO, you'd be surprised how small that world is. You wouldn't want to bump into one of their friends, not know it, and have a burned bridge story following you behind your back.

Nairobi

Politicker

That’s true, you are right. But they already kicked me out of our softwares lmao so I cannot make any guide anyways.

looper1010

Celebrated Contributor

Solutions Specialist

Their loss, lol!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

I firmly believe in not burning bridges. With that said you didn’t burn this bridge. They did. Tell them hey you want this work from me(which you are doing without an incentive I assume) pay me what is right.

Nairobi

Politicker

I didn’t think about this from that angle, but you are 100% right; they burned it first. Thanks!

Wildcard

Opinionated

Account Executive

Burning bridges with people who treat you poorly is the right thing to do.

BANTer

Contributor

Head of Tech Sales

I’d write the guide because you volunteered it. You never know where they will land so I’d see this as investment in your own personal brand. And who knows, maybe you’ll boomerang back. Either way, cost of burning bridges and coming off like you don’t follow through on what you yourself volunteered to do isn’t worth it. Sadly 2 wrongs won’t make a right. I’d be pretty open with them that you don’t agree with that, and would make it public on Glassdoor and Repvue so others aren’t put through the same BS. Sorry that happened to you :(

versus

God, no.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

Mention how you are happy to go out of your way to ensure the next person in has a good foundation to work off, however, you feel that you have gone above and beyond expectation and deserve to be paid the commission you earned.

Clashingsoulsspell

Politicker

ISR

Not sure that's a huge bridge you'd be burning, given that they seem comfortable not paying you money you think they should be paying you.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

I’d also leave a review on Glassdoor or other job review sites. They obviously don’t see value in paying commissions where owed so how can they expect to attract top talent?

Nairobi

Politicker

Trust I will! Don’t think they will ever attract top talent. Only thing is that they’ll know it’s me lol because they’ve hired four salespeople so far, and they all left.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

You’re in sales ;) negotiate. They need the guide, you need your commish

MR.StretchISR

Politicker

ISR

Get your full commish or zero guide for them. That's it. No room for negotiation.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

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.

Nairobi

Thinking of burning my first bridge tomorrow. Need your advice.

46 comments

Related posts

What's the BEST SALES ADVICE you will give to anyone starting his/her sales career now?

"What is it going to take to put you in one of these baby's today?" - Really bad coffin salesman / Or a really good one?

Thinking of making a big move, need some advice.