What is one thing you know now that you wished you knew when starting in sales?

😎 Sales Skills
🧠 Advice
32
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
18
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Live within your means and don't see commission checks as an easy way to pay off credit card debt. 

It took me a year to pick up that one. 
goose
Politicker
4
Sales Executive
Also, commission checks can be an easy way to pay off credit card debt.
CastleIsland
Tycoon
2
Associate Account Director
I agree with this. I often view my base salary as what I live off of and pay the bills with, and then the commission checks can be used for saving, investing, and fun.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
11
🦊
Keep emotion out of the process. 
SlinginSoftware
Politicker
10
Account Executive
You're not going to get fired "tomorrow" - Haha

For my first 2 .5 years in sales, for some reason I always had it in my mind that I was about to be fired.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
8
SaaS Eater
Its better to be respected than liked, especially as a manager. 
EmptyCupOfTea
Valued Contributor
1
Growth Marketing Manager
I sense a backstory here 👀
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
4
SaaS Eater
I mean there are plenty of stories here, both personally and that I have observed but more just a general trend of managers wanting their team to like them and doing a bunch of stuff that would compromise their credibility as a manager. People do dumb shit when they are young and given responsibility haha.
BillyHoyle
Tycoon
7
Senior Account Executive
It's often not what you say, but how you say it that matters most. Enthusiasm and confidence can hide drastic gaps in acumen.
Diablo
Politicker
4
Sr. AE
Burnout 😂
EmptyCupOfTea
Valued Contributor
0
Growth Marketing Manager
burnout?? are you not a machine??? where's my refund! 😂
Mobi85
Politicker
4
Regional Sales Manager
Vices are very real and is what keeps you going each and every day (as I am sipping on my 4th cup of coffee)...
MichaelScottKnowsBest
Good Citizen
4
Sales Executive
Cold calling never stops - no matter what they tell you - it's always part of the job.
EmptyCupOfTea
Valued Contributor
0
Growth Marketing Manager
I have seen VPs do cold calling when needs be, it never ends!
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
4
District Manager
Don’t take it personal. 
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
3
☕️
There is no such thing as a "linear career path"
RedLightning
Politicker
3
Mid-Market AE
The value of my own time. Not every prospect is ready for a sales conversation. If you sell a software tool that helps "execute" some kind of process, the prospect must be bought into the concept of that process - if you go through with the sales conversations in that scenario you have to first sell the concept then the tool. 


SaaSguy
Tycoon
3
Account Executive
Go for the no. Don't waste time chasing your tail.
whathaveyousoldtomorrow
Opinionated
1
sales
this - also said as 'avoid happy-ears' 
MinisterOfChaos
Politicker
3
Commercial Account Executive
Shut up and listen.

Ask open-ended questions with a variety of possible answers and allow the customer/client to just talk. They'll talk themselves into the sale.
dwightyouignorantsale
Politicker
3
Account Executive
Detach. Detach. Detach. As easy as it is to get emotionally attached and excited about a deal, you need to detach from the outcome and detach from the deal. This took me a while to learn how to do this, but it will save your mind from exploding.
InfiniteGranite
Executive
2
Senior Enterprise AE
That you can have the greatest product, fantastic culture, benefits, etc. but if your line manager is no good, it doesn't mean a damn thing! 

It's all about finding a good blend of the above and unfort, having a decent line manager is actually pretty important, imo. I've left decent companies because my line manager was garbage and I've stayed at jobs longer than I should for the opposite.  
cw95
Politicker
2
Sales Development Lead
Some colleagues are good and on your wavelength, and some colleagues are liars but manage to bs their way through everyday. 
LordBusiness
Politicker
2
Chief Revenue Officer
There is nothing worth getting worked up over. Clients will come snd go, ups snd downs will happen over long careers. Don’t ride the rollercoaster
goose
Politicker
2
Sales Executive
If you are good at something don't do it for free.
E_Money
Big Shot
2
💰
The people on the other end of the phone can't dictate your feelings irl.

Even when they are being... like... SUPER mean 😢
BANTer
Contributor
2
Head of Tech Sales
Couldn’t choose!! But my 2 Top ones : Detach from the outcome and buyers are just humans too
TheOverTaker
Politicker
1
Senior Account Executive
That I was starting in sales....first job was very well-disguised 
EmptyCupOfTea
Valued Contributor
1
Growth Marketing Manager
That's a big one...
sales321go
Good Citizen
1
Account Executive
the importance of joining the right organization; business dev is where dreams go to die jkk, but for reallll haha
Jerry_the_cheese
Valued Contributor
1
Sales Manager - Pharma
You're pretty good at this
EmptyCupOfTea
Valued Contributor
0
Growth Marketing Manager
even if people don't acknowledge it! deals closed speak for themselves!
Marketingpet
Politicker
1
Partner Manager
Don’t get too high or too low. I’ve both won and lost big deals and the emotion I put in the losses was so unnecessarily taxing.
WomenWantMeFishFearMe
Politicker
1
AM
It's easier than accounting. Do just sales instead of accounting and sales.
whathaveyousoldtomorrow
Opinionated
1
sales
The highs are short lived and the lows are REAL - see my handle, its always, 'what have you sold tomorrow.'  Keep yourself grounded participating in the real world and dont allow your feelings get wrapped around your attainment. Also, live/budget off your base pay. 
RealPatrickBateman
Politicker
1
🔪Amateur Butcher🔪
I'm just gonna sum up all these comments....

THERE IS NO MAGIC BULLET. You will have managers, colleagues and resources at your disposal. YOU have to be the "X" factor, no one will do it for you. 
Gasty
Notable Contributor
0
War Room Community Manager
Running a half marathon can really help your sales career in ways beyond your imagination.
11

What do you wish you knew when you were starting out in sales?

Question
10
10

If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing before starting your sales career, what would it be?

Discussion
18
13

For those of you who failed their first sales job and then recovered and now are doing well... what’s your story?

Discussion
6