punishedlad

Business Development Team Lead

TIFU Thread

Alright folks, let's hear it: What was your most embarrassing/monumental f*** up during your day to day, and how did you recover?

I'll start.

A few weeks back I was doing an in-person drop in with a prospect. I ended up getting there right around lunch. I saw the prospect I was trying to meet with leaving the building for his vehicle. I had done a good amount of research before hand and recognized the guy from his headshot on the org's website. I rushed out of my car, cookies in hand, and flagged him down in the parking lot because I didn't want to miss the opportunity.

He was super caught off guard, refused to make eye contact or shake my hand as I introduced myself. Literally said "this is really strange." I expressed that I knew I was coming out of nowhere here and was just hoping to introduce myself and open the door to a conversation, didn't want to miss my chance before he potentially left for the day. This... didn't work. Apologized profusely and handed off the cookies, wished him a good rest of his day, and retreated.

Ended up waiting for him to leave and went into the building to try and meet with the other decision maker at the org, and successfully made contact in a much less awkward way. However, I think I probably killed any chance of a deal with that first interaction. Not sure how I'm going to come back from this one.

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19 comments

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antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

10

Bravado's Resident Asshole

Well then, that was a bit cringe. But you learned, I hope...

My story was that when I was calling to sell/set appts for copiers, I was chasing after this bigger church. Well after several voicemails and us playing phone tag, I was finally able to get the pastor to agree to do something as long as I got his office manager of the school in on the conversation.

I called the school and the OM was kind of annoyed that I was calling in the first place. I said "hands up don't shoot the messenger" jokingly as I was telling her what the pastor had said.. 10 minutes later I get an email from the pastor saying I will have 0 chance at getting his business because he didn't like that I said that and then lost all connection afterword..

2 weeks later I stumbled upon an article about said church that stated the pastor was interviewed by police following a shooting in his congregation where armed assailant came in pointing his gun at the pastor, but little did the guy know that the pastor was packing and pulled his gun out and shot the intruder.

I will never say "don't shoot the messenger" ever again.

punishedlad

Tycoon

2

Business Development Team Lead

hahahahaha hoooooly crap. That's an incredible story. Probably a good thing to work out of the vernacular.

Pachacuti

Politicker

1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

that was interesting.

On a side note, I know a few people who CC everywhere...including church.

punishedlad

Tycoon

0

Business Development Team Lead

Also yes, I actually had an almost identical situation present itself two weeks ago where my prospect was walking to his car. I waited for him to drive off before going and talking to his secretary. We have a meeting scheduled for the new year!

CuriousFox

WR Officer

4

🦊

Oh the second hand embarrassment. Yikes. Don't do that again 😉

punishedlad

Tycoon

2

Business Development Team Lead

Never again.

I was relieved to hear that my manager made a very similar mistake in his earlier days in my role.

Diablo

Politicker

2

Sr. AE

Hahah this is insane.. I’d never do it and you won’t either from now…

punishedlad

Tycoon

0

Business Development Team Lead

I certainly won't, but I gotta ask for an embarrassing story from you now @Diablo

sketchysales

Politicker

2

Sales Manager

Oh ouch, yeh maybe avoid stalking.

Not really the same level but i set up a meeting once in paris with a prospect and got there to realise neither of us spoke the same language. The industry i was in generally everyone had a very good grasp of English because it was a very international industry with pretty much no domestic production for most companies (clothing) so this caught me way off guard. We sat and tried to converse with each other for about an hour using lots of hand guestures and trying to get by on my extremely limited grasp french and his limited english.

Needless to say, no order came through and we both left more confused than when we came.

punishedlad

Tycoon

1

Business Development Team Lead

I hope that wasn't the only meeting you were in Paris for!

sketchysales

Politicker

2

Sales Manager

Fortunately not, just one of several. To make it better it was in a properly sketchy area. Paris is one of those places everyone thinks is so glamorous but start going there for work, its sketchy AF in some areas.

punishedlad

Tycoon

1

Business Development Team Lead

You're not the only person I've heard that from. I've crossed it off my list of European cities to visit.

activity

Politicker

1

VP, Business Development

We all make mistakes. Just don't repeat the mistake.

Pachacuti

Politicker

1

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

I got flown out (with 3 others from my school) to Los Angeles for a job interview in my last semester of college. 2 days of interviewing, dinners, etc. There were 2 openings we were all vying for.

Everything going great till in my last interview with the big boss, she pointed out that I had spelled the name of the company incorrectly on a presentation. 100% my fault. Autocorrect didn't exist. I simply mistyped and didn't proofread.

Didn't get the job. Oh well. They paid 💩 but it hurt my ego to not get offer.

punishedlad

Tycoon

0

Business Development Team Lead

I can only imagine the stomach drop when that happened. But also, that's an incredibly petty reason not to hire someone.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

I think the most embarrassing think I have done was,

I was meeting a client at a starbucks. Bought two coffees, and when I was putting the lid on. The client said, "I dont think you got it on all the way" I then pushed down on the lid assumed it was good. Client gave me a "that didnt do sh*t" look, but I was ready to get down to business and start selling so I moved on.

Of course the second I take a sip, coffee goes everywhere. Luckily all on me and the table, not on the client.

It took so long to clean up, by the time we were done, it has been 30 minutes, so the client had to leave.

punishedlad

Tycoon

1

Business Development Team Lead

Truly tragic. A lesson in lid securing and patience.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

Two lessons, I continue to learn the hard way.

Angusmacg

Valued Contributor

1

Territory Account Mgr.

My embarrassing situation actually turned into strengthening my relationship w/the customer.

I was inside sales and was on the phone with a female customer. We had a pretty solid business relationship and had shared a few minor personal anecdotes. We were talking about buildup and then nothing happening. Without even thinking I said it is kinda like foreplay then being interrupted lie the Chicago Cubs not winning a World Series.

As soon as I said it I paused and thought to myself “F**k, did I just screw up?” Why did I early that?”

She ended up cracking up (she had lived in Chicago for a little while) and agreed. Needless to say I became her first and last contact when she needed to buy components

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