Kinonez

War Room Enthusiast

What has been the worse piece of advice a manger has ever given you?

Here is mine;

Push for a sale no matter what, if they don't need our product, create it, I'll make sure they stick around for at least a year.

I did that, I would push for a meeting, say the right things in order to book a meeting with him and get the most commission. They would sign up for a 3-month trial, never renew and leave angry. Then hurt us by word or mouth and bad reviews.

What terrible advices have you received? have you realized they were bad at the time? If so, have you followed them to the letter or addressed the elephant in the room?

...

Found out that @alecabral posted this before.

https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/what-is-the-worst-advice-you-ve-ever-gotten-from-a-sales-manager-or-coach

👑 Sales Strategy

🧢 Sales Management

🏋️‍♀️ Leadership

93 comments

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poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

"You're good at this, keep at it."

I could be making coffee for a living now if I didn't listen to that prick.

Tres

Politicker

Account Executive

If only someone had told you that you were good at making coffee.. then you'd be set

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

“…but the hiring manager said with my potentch, I should be making six figs, EASY.”

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Back then they didn't want me...now my coffee hot, they all on me.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Do you smell toast today?

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

281-330-8004 \
hit mike jones up on the low

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

It's never too late to start your own coffee plantation, I started 2 years ago and about to get my first harvest!

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

congrats!

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

I'm not sure New England weather is going to produce good beans for me, but I'm VERY interested in the green coffee business.

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

i can has some coffees?

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

That's a fair point @poweredbycaffeine, I did move back to my home country (Honduras) to proceed this. Sure! @FlintIronstag! I'll be happy to share with the community!

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

fake it till you make it. I had a job offer to setup meetings for financial planner firm. it was like $50 a meeting and nobody had to buy the services, you got paid commish anyways.

problem was i was broke and had no skills and had to pass some sort of financial certification test. you could do training and theyd kick you back meetings you set under the table till you passed your cert but my boss told me to 'fake it till i make it' to get good meetings. he suggested since i was young and had no credit to get a nice car, a credit card to get fancy clothes and to look the part in order to grow my book of business.

worst advice i ever got. i thought about it, went and looked at a nice car, did the math on the payment and what i was making and then quit. went to work for a boiler room selling newspaper subscriptions instead (that job sucked too).

youKNOW

Politicker

Sales Manager

It's funny..."fake it till you make it" was one of the best I ever got. They never said go buy a car etc etc but the meaning was about how to present yourself on the phone.

So in a way I agree with you on this one person's sh*tty advice. What kind of financial svcs firm tells its people to go rack up a bunch of debt? Bonkers.

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

Sad thing was I was like 21? So I looked at a Dodge Charger Daytona edition. I thought that was fancy. Yikes.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I would never suggest, "dress for the part" or "Fake it till you make it" It's better to prepare yourself until you get where you want to be. Invest in yourself and push harder than the rest!

youKNOW

Politicker

Sales Manager

Agreed that "fake it till you make it", when used in the context of going in to debt to act the part, is always terrible advice.

Overall though I agree with your attitude towards it, prepare as best you can and work hard.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Did you just combine two examples from the hit films Fight Club and Boiler Room into your response?

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

No. I've seen fight club but never boiler room. Not sure the reference, neither of those ring a bell in fight club.

This is exactly what happened to me. Thank god I turned it down.

someoneinsales

Tycoon

Director of Sales

Put it into the universe and the universe will respond.....this was a response I got when my manager wanted me to commit a deal I didnt have a good feeling about. He told me commit it because if I put it into the universe, the universe will respond with what I want....

we did not get that deal....

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

Manifest it through your sales crystals into a deal!

someoneinsales

Tycoon

Director of Sales

Still praying to the god's of Gong for it to close.

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

old gods

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Oh God no, I hate it when you reach out for help and they give you a fancy quote that goes nowhere.

someoneinsales

Tycoon

Director of Sales

I rarely use to reach out to the manager back then. The one time he did he dropped this line on me and I never went back for help again.

FeedTheKids

Politicker

Solutions Consultant

😂 best one I've read...

Hate when ppl say this type of stuff

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

I swear I have seen this recently...

CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

I smell toast

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Looked it up just in case, found nothing though.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

LOL! Not hating at all. But @alecabral did recently:

https://bravado.co/war-room/posts/what-is-the-worst-advice-you-ve-ever-gotten-from-a-sales-manager-or-coach

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Thanks Fox. For some reason this did not show up...

CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

Search functionality is definitely on the list of things being worked on/improved

Incognito

WR Officer

Master of Disaster

I love when people obviously cheat 👀

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Writing over 30 comments at the last minute is not against the rules, you are the one who is gaining lots of points without commenting.

Incognito

WR Officer

Master of Disaster

Please tell me how this possibly makes any mathematical sense. And how you got 1000 points in an hour 🤔

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I didn't get 1,000 points in a hour, I was in 4th most of the week, I used my invites at the last moment and started commenting on several posts. You also had a massive jump at the end of the day. We were all active you are the only one pointing fingers. I forget how toxic this community can be sometimes.

Incognito

WR Officer

Master of Disaster

Dude. Do the math. I also used an invite if you must know.

You’re the one making it toxic by spamming last minute one word comments when those on the leaderboard have been making efforts all week for a positive contribution.

It’s fucking ridiculous and I’ll spend all night if I have to so that you don’t get compensated for bullshit.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I don’t need you to justify anything, I’m not pointing fingers, I wasn’t in fourth for nothing, the reason I was super active was because everyone got active once I finally reached the top 3.

You do the math, there were
more points gained these last few hours by everyone. Including you, getting several points in minutes.

Don’t worry about me, I lost interest when called a cheater by the actual cheater.

Incognito

WR Officer

Master of Disaster

You pissed me off. You should know by now to never fuck with a badger.

looks like others noticed your bullshit too. 🤷‍♀️

SleuthstarSDR

Opinionated

Sales operations for SaaS Corp

How old are you curiousfox ?

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

90 🤷‍♀️

SleuthstarSDR

Opinionated

Sales operations for SaaS Corp

Damn what’s the rule double the age and divide by half ?

AlphaCharlie

Arsonist

Account executive

To be fearless.

This is impossible to achieve. We have survived and adapted from generation through generation by channeling our fear. That is what makes us human, prospects don’t want a robot. I think it’s better to examine your fears and divide those into buckets. Some are irrational and should be treated as such, but then there are warranted fears that you should listen closely as you think through challenges. You will encounter fight-or-flee situations, where you need to act fearlessly but feeling the fear, is necessary.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I love the analogy and agree 100%. This hit me deep!

AlphaCharlie

Arsonist

Account executive

Glad it resonated with you!

SADNES5

Politicker

down voters are marketing spies

"Follow the script"

Why the hell hire me for my personality and selling skills if you want me to follow a generic script.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I follow it for like the first 2 weeks, see what works for me and put my own self into it, I'd hate to read that every day, every call and prospect is different. Scripts should be a base, not a rule.

getrichordieDIALIN

Contributor

Sales Development Representative

Agreed! Product knowledge is great, but you don’t need a script forever. It’s not gonna be the same every time you talk to a prospect. Some are IT robots and need the personality, and others are old men with desk phones wondering wtf a soft phone is. Personality though....goes a long way.

Upper_Class_SaaS

Politicker

Account Executive

"Just be patient, the promotion is coming"

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I did follow this one... more than once...

Upper_Class_SaaS

Politicker

Account Executive

Don't you just hate it!

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Yeah, we have to keep pushing harder than the rest until the notice us, what else can we do?

rubberducky

Politicker

SAE

"Fake it, till you make it"

Handed in my notice the same week..

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Like a true champ!

JC10X

Politicker

Senior Sales Manager

You're great man, you really need to accept authority and be a follower.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

This would have pissed me off. How did you react to this?

JC10X

Politicker

Senior Sales Manager

I told him, I only accept authority and ideas that make sense. Noone follows someone or something they don't believe in. - He decided to burn my name with all the higher ups and took me time to help them see otherwise.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

It's sad, but I would have taken the same route. I respect that JC!

TheRealPezDog

Notable Contributor

Sr. Business Development Manager

Good post, and that's some serious bullshit (your story). Honestly, for me it's something I've heard from MOST of my SM's: "Sales is a numbers game." It's really not. I generate revenue by being thoughtful/strategic about who I'm calling and I follow up relentlessly, even if it takes me years to land the account. For me, it's never been a numbers game because dialing 250+ times a day I would fucking burnout and hate my job.

Mr.Pickles

Arsonist

Sr. Customer Success Manager

as a Manager or just advisor, the worst thing you can do is give your unsolicited opinion.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Wow, this one is deep. I would have trouble remaining with my poker face. I feel like there is more to this story though.

Mr.Pickles

Arsonist

Sr. Customer Success Manager

there is - never EVER give your unsolicited oppinion. that's it

alecabral

Arsonist

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

Thanks for the mention @kinonez!

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Of course! I'm sure you'd do the same. I never intended to steal your post. I don't know why it didn't appear when I searched it. Hope people see this post and engage with yours!

alecabral

Arsonist

Director - Digital Sales Transformation

I didn't mean it like that man, I really don't think I asked anything that original and I'm pretty sure I was not the first. All cool man!

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Didn't think you meant it in a bad why brother. Also, you are way cooler!

sellingsellssold

Politicker

SDR

“There is nothing I can do to help you just keep doing it and maybe it will work for you” - worst manager ever super lazy and did not care about any employees

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

I don't understand who lazy people can become managers, I mean, in sales you can tell you puts the extra mile and who dosen't

Hudsonsmom

Opinionated

Area Sales Manager

Blackmail a client to make them sign up for something

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

That's borderline insane!

DMHunter

Field Sales Rep

"Understand the waters you are swimming in when you give feedback". Got this advise from a director when I was asked a direct question about performance of a specific sector. Gave honest feedback that he didn't like and this was his advice to me when speaking to a Director lol.

I was young and this comment (in front of my boss and 3 co-workers have you) threw me for a loop for about 3 years. Took a lot of therapy to move past this level of demoralization.

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Great Advice! It would have taken me at least 5!

TheDeplorable

Politicker

" You should be cold calling before 8AM"

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

You should set meetings for him at 6:00am

AE88

Praised Answer

Account Executive

Text your deals during the Super Bowl to make conversation

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Wait what? I want some of what he/she is smoking!

MightySteelLeg

Arsonist

account executive

"Just book more meetings"

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

He’s a genius! How could we have not thought about that!

EscoChico

Catalyst

Sales Representative

"Wear them down until they commit to a time on the calendar..." -Solar Company CEO.

bamageorge

Celebrated Contributor

International Sales Director

''Do it for the money''

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

Oh no, red flag, run brother run!!

Tres

Politicker

Account Executive

My manager told me the only thing they learned from an executive class at some big name school was to dead head their flowers. Not exactly advice, but kind of. (I do follow this advice when gardening ever since)

FlintIronstag

Notorious Answer

Chief Marketing Officer

I googled that to see if their was some sort of business metaphor but no, it’s exactly what you think.

BigCheese

Notorious Answer

Agency Recruiter

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

War Room Enthusiast

That sounds fishy for sure... I would not follow that advice

CastleIsland

Tycoon

Associate Account Director

"What's the secret to success? Have more kids."

getrichordieDIALIN

Contributor

Sales Development Representative

“You won’t get a bonus, but this will look GREAT on your resume!”

KendallRoy

Politicker

Billing issue with large client. "Leave it with me. I'll fix it." Months later, not fixed.

Get looped in with a bro on the billing team by a colleague. Fixes the issue immediately.

eds

Opinionated

Salesy

Don't be proactive, just play ball

dwightyouignorantsale

Politicker

Account Executive

“You should never expect a promotion if you have been in a position for less than a year”

From a very old school boss who thought that time in a position was valued higher than the work you put out. He was later fired and I was promoted, so that worked out well.

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

"Include me in your deals." -several poor managers

MaximumRaizer

Politicker

Sales Manager

fake it till you make it. I had a job offer to setup meetings for financial planner firm. it was like $50 a meeting and nobody had to buy the services, you got paid commish anyways.

Blackwargreymon

Politicker

MDR

worst advice i ever got. i thought about it, went and looked at a nice car, did the math on the payment and what i was making and then quit. went to work for a boiler room selling newspaper subscriptions instead (that job sucked too).