What's the worst thing a sales manager has said to you that you used as fuel to prove them wrong?

I got demoted a few months ago since sales were way down during the pandemic with no warning or anything (apparently it was a "snap decision" once I had internal conversations). When I asked my boss, because obviously I was thrown off guard, he told me "My confidence in your ability to predict when a deal is going to close is limited at best..." So I quit and found another closing role and am loving life.

🙏 Mental Wellness
🤝 Networking
🧢 Sales Management
20
braintank
Politicker
10
Enterprise Account Executive
Early in my career a VP made an offhand ageist comment about me (i.e. this kid doesn't have enough experience to understand X). That comment fueled my performance for years. I went on to get promoted to VP at the same company so we were peers. Showed him...

Always play with a chip on your shoulder, even if you have to manufacture it.
PayMeInSteak
Valued Contributor
1
AE
Love it! That's some Michael Jordan mentality right there.
braintank
Politicker
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Exactly! I was rewatching Last Dance yesterday!!!
PayMeInSteak
Valued Contributor
1
AE
Rewatched it all last week! 5th time now - probably have an infinite more amount of times in the tank. Very inspiring.
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
0
VP of Sales
Always play with a chip on shoulder... That’s a such a great line. Love it. I didn’t have a choice. Brutal childhood and parents who never believed in me. I have the chip to thank for everything I’ve accomplished.
TheFemaleWolf
Opinionated
6
Director of Sales
“Honestly, they don’t think you can do it again. Maybe this year was just a fluke”
PayMeInSteak
Valued Contributor
2
AE
Wowowowow - just a fluke?! I hope you danced on their graves!
TheFemaleWolf
Opinionated
0
Director of Sales
You know I did!! 

Walked away that year with President's Club, 2nd Place in the entire company (300+ reps) and a 10k check.  25 years old was good to me! 

When someone questions my abilities it motivates the shit out of me to prove them wrong.
drtendo
Politicker
6
Enterprise Account Executive
"you'll need to lose those morals to be successful" - i'm still successful and I'm still a good fuckin person.
Tres
Politicker
4
Account Executive
"You'll never get that customer, everyone has tried before" 
CaneWolf
Politicker
3
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
"There is no way you're going to close that company"
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
3
☕️
"This might not be for you." as I go on a PIP. Got off the PIP, he ended up getting fired later.
Philly_Bro
Opinionated
2
Strategic Account Manager
"I can train my dog to shit and piss on command, but I can't Get you to close a fucking deal"

He was a prick, I switched to a competitor two years ago and love it! I still compete with him in our local Market. If you're In here, see you at the next in person networking event.
UserNotFound
Politicker
0
Account Executive
What a Dick
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
0
VP of Sales
Haha how’d you get out of that job-compete
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
'I want you to grow with the company and become head of business development, but right now it's a no' and then proceeded to not give me any training and hire someone else. 

So I went an alternative route and I am now working directly with the CEO and things couldn't be better in terms of performance.
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
"we took a flyer on you"

After a bad q1 in a new industry - outlasted him and crushed targets the rest of the year. 
YoursTruly
Politicker
1
Account Executive (SaaS)
That our sales team, including me were paid above market and we should he thankful. 6 of 9 reps left within 9 minths and while I can’t speak for the other 5, my new salary increased by 20% and OTE almost doubled. I let her and HR know exactly what i thought about that comment during my exit interview as well as told them my new comp. Ialso told both of them that telling your sales staff that they are all over paid is asking for a mass exodus. The reality is she probably did want us all to leave. She backfilled most roles with either a personal friend or someone referred by a personal friend.
Theloanemperor
Opinionated
0
Loan Officer
That my tactics weren't going to work and they did. He's a 35 year vet in the same industry and thought he knew it all, but knowing the product and knowing how to build a business these days are two completely different animals. Product knowledge is vital, but if you have no one to sell to, you're toast. In my industry, we don't get leads, we're referral based. Creating referral partners is very challenging and in the real estate/mortgage industry, you're always taking someone else's business. If a realtor begins working with me over their previous loan officer, it's the name of the game. Gotta stay on top of your referral partners!
SmilingNotDialing
Contributor
0
Account Executive
At the beginning of this year I got a new territory and new manager (whom I now have a great relationship with) but in the first weeks I had a current customer reach out asking to downgrade from 5 to 3 users. After submitting the downgrade my manager emailed me saying “you’re supposed to be making us money not losing it”. Little did she know I had already scheduled a call with the client to try and upgrade them to a more expensive package that would bring in significantly more revenue than was lost in the downgrade. One week later I closed the upgrade deal and sent it back to her saying “how’s that for making money?”
BANTer
Contributor
0
Head of Tech Sales
I was 2020 top performer and delivered highest #s at a senior AM level vs 2 other VPs. Started 2021 with highest quota and biggest team to manage so I asked for VP and comp that matched the 2 men 20 years my senior. Was offered 40% less pay than them with a quota 2MM more and a team to lead twice the size. I pushed back politely and was told “that’s all you can get. If you’re not happy it’s probably because you live in SF and it’s expensive.” Went on PTO for a week after that call, resigned my second day back with an offer not just higher than those 2 VPs but also that manager who was 30 years my senior. #Girlbye
BullDawg
Politicker
0
AE
I was a BDR and my enterprise rep went to bat for me to get promoted to the field. Recommended I reach out to his VP and ask for a meeting to discuss my future. And so I did, and he agreed. The night before my meeting with the VP, my rep called me and basically said “I don’t know if any of this is true or holds any water, but I want you to know what you’re walking into. When I called VP to tell him how confident I am in your ability to move up he said it’ll never happen because you’re awkward socially and dress weird. I don’t think that’s true, but it’s what he said.” The VP turned me down (no surprise) but I never forgot that comment. It fuels me every time I’m in a high pressure situation: “you’re awkward and you dress funny but you outsell every mother fucker you meet - let’s go!”
5

Tell me about the shittiest sales manager you ever had.

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What is the worst advice you've ever gotten from a sales manager or coach?

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What's the dumbest thing your sales manager has ever said to you?

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