RedLightning

Mid-Market AE

Valued Contributor

When is it time to call it quits?

I'm having a solid month, but had a bunch of random shit prevent me from an all time high/company high.

I feel like the job in SaaS is essentially leading 10 horses to water knowing that 4 of them will end up drinking. Lately, it feels like those 3 of those 4 horses drop dead of a stroke right before they drink the water. I've lost so many deals at the goal line over the past 6 months for the most random reasons.

I know I'm the common denominator in all of the situations, so there's likely something I'm not doing well or something I'm not finding in discovery. But, it's wildly frustrating for your DM to get fired or the company to get acquired and kill your deal.

Overall, I like sales. But, if absurd shit keeps killing my deals, should I take that as a sign to make a change? I'm not mad about losing deals. Losing is part of the role.... but lately it feels like the rules of the game keep changing every time I'm about to win.

Has anyone else been in a situation like this where you've needed to be talked down the metaphorical ledge?

🎈 Mentorship

🙏 Mental Wellness

🚀 Career Goals

23

32 comments

Sort by:

CuriousFox

WR Officer

6

🦊

You have got to let go of things you can't control.

Also I can't get the image of dead horses out of my mind.

RedLightning

Politicker

2

Mid-Market AE

I do words good

ultrarunner

Opinionated

1

Account Executive

I have horses and yea.. they are not easy to lead over to water 😆

peachykeen

Politicker

4

sae e-commerce

Do you have any colleagues or friends that work in your industry you can chat with about how they cope with ‘the ledge’? Ha, as I type this I just thought, no shit Sherlock, that’s why the question was asked on here 😂🤦‍♀️ But seriously, sales can be lonely on the daily. So catch up with friends in or out of your industry. Find some new inspiring reading material.

Pachacuti

Politicker

3

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

You may just need a change in scenery. Perhaps a new job selling something else?
Or just take a step back and try to look at it from an outsiders perspective. Helps me.

RedLightning

Politicker

1

Mid-Market AE

I really like the company I'm at. I think its the industry I sell to....

I'm bringing a ton of deals to the goal line and losing for a variety of reasons - some my fault or that stemmed from me not doing an A+ job throughout the process but a significant amount more where it's just outside my control.

Unfortunately, nothing is "outside our control" in sales. I keep telling myself that the law of averages should kick back in and random bullshit should stop occurring, but I'm worried that's not the case.

RedLightning

Politicker

1

Mid-Market AE

For example, over the past 5 months I've had the owner's brother have a friend at a competitor who ended up winning the deal out of the blue because the non involved owner trusted his brother's word over the guy he hired to run X department. I've had a prospects' company get acquired mid sales cycle, I've had an unrelated contract kick in which killed cash flow and then my deal. The list goes on.

I think I just need to vent, drink, and bounce back while hoping my luck turns. I've sold to different industries and have never had this much random stuff happen at the 1 yard line to kill deals....

funcoupons

WR Officer

6

👑

I can say with certainty that a contact leaving the company/a buyout are not things within your control whatsoever.

I can say with almost certainty that you're just going through a rough patch, it happens to all of us in sales. One quarter you're getting your ass kicked, then next quarter a whale lands in your lap and the sales cycle is flawless.

My advice is to have a drink, and keep your head up. Keep the faith that you're good at your job and doing your best to control circumstances that are within your control. It's possible that you might like another career path better, but simply being stressed out about deals falling through is not the best time to consider a total career change.

RedLightning

Politicker

1

Mid-Market AE

I think I just needed to vent.

funcoupons

WR Officer

4

👑

We've all been there

RealPatrickBateman

Politicker

3

🔪Amateur Butcher🔪

I 110% back this entire statement. Rough patches are part of the gig, there is an element of circumstance that is out of your control. That being said, we all hate to lose so I feel where you’re at… A long time ago a manager once told me that “Sales is a battle of attrition, just stay standing”. Be persistent be relentless. Stay thirsty my friend 💪

RealPatrickBateman

Politicker

4

🔪Amateur Butcher🔪

🔑 Perpetual Optimism is a Force Multiplier.
Read that again.

RedLightning

Politicker

0

Mid-Market AE

just got a few more punches to the face. I had about 115k of pipeline at proposal or pending that meeting on Feb 5th across 6 deals. All have died for various reasons, but I closed ~19K in forecasted deals going into the month putting me at 75% on the month.

There's probably something I didn't do well across those 6 deals and I'll work to get better, but I'm also going to give myself a hard look in the mirror. Essentially, we sell a better mousetrap. Honestly, that may not be the best sale for me and I may need to move into a less established space or a more disruptive product.

I don't think I'm out of sales yet, but maybe @Pachacuti is right. It could be the scenery.

Nikosuave

Executive

1

Business Development Manager

I would 1000% disagree with the fact that nothing is out side of your control in sales. In my experience more is out of your control then in control, but I understand the fustration.

braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

Welcome to sales 😁

RedLightning

Politicker

2

Mid-Market AE

Haha I've been doing it for 3 years! Maybe all of the bull shit reasons to lose deals that hadn't happened are finally catching up.

braintank

Politicker

3

Enterprise Account Executive

Getting it all out of the way now. Rest of the year will be smooth sailing ;)

Justatitle

Big Shot

2

Account Executive

A DM leaving or a company acquisition are truly outside of your control and that’s not you. Unfortunately the sales world has more lows than highs and it takes a special kind of person who is a glutton for punishment to be willing to work in this field. If you trust that you are doing the right things then success will come.

RedLightning

Politicker

0

Mid-Market AE

Broadly, I'm doing well. It just seemed like that gap to consistently do great is less in my control than I'd like

Sunbunny31

Politicker

2

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Sounds mostly like a patch of bad luck than anything specific you're doing. It is all happening at once, which can be a challenge.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

2

SaaS Eater

This shit always comes in waves. You've probably had runs where the opposite was happening and you didn't realize it.

All part of the ride my friend.

FilterNerd

Member

1

Territory Sales Manager

If it makes you feel any better I have to talk my colleagues off the ledge and they talk me off the ledge all the time. One month you’re a king the next month you think you’ll never sell anything every again.
It’s the most love/hate relationship I’ve ever experienced. Hang in there pal, something big will go your way soon.

TennisandSales

Politicker

0

Head Of Sales

honestly....sounds like sales haha.

we lose a ton. win some. get screwed alot.

rinse and repeat.

i like @Pachacuti point, maybe a new place is a good idea.

SalesBeast

Politicker

0

Sales Director

Sales is a rollercoaster. Just strap in and go for the ride. Don’t party too hard on the highs. Don’t let the lows mess with your head.

justatopproducer

Politicker

0

VP OF SALES -US

I feel ya bud. Chin up though. Also, I’m not sure where this adoption of losing and 20% of pipeline deals will close has become the norm but I’m sick of it. Yo until the pandemic I close at 80% or higher. I don’t do RFP’s and proposals for fun so I try to unsell them on my solution as earl on as possible.
Perhaps try that? Dq’Ing prospects earlier on.
What do you sell? Perhaps the economy has changed your prospects needs and your approach needs to change as well?

lackofbudget

Contributor

0

SDR

Good sales karma is coming your way!

10XQLA

Politicker

0

Medical Sales Assassin

Bro, hang in there this is a clusterfuck of an economy and the US is being led by a Muppet. There is a direct correlation to economic climate and customer behavior. Trust me it's not you it's them and their company's scarcity mindset in not being able to sign the P.O.

Lioness

Good Citizen

0

Sr Field Enterprise Account Executive

I would look back to see if there were early indicators of risks in the deals. What questions could you have asked earlier on? How could you adjust the criteria you use for prospecting? Once you start doing this, you may learn that some of the leads you've been working never had a real chance of closing. The sooner you figure that out, the better; You'll have more time to dedicate to real opportunities.

RedLightning

Politicker

0

Mid-Market AE

Yeah, that's what I'm doing tomorrow.

2 were out of my control with external wrenches killing things. 2 others were me not looping in a key stakeholder.

CRAG112

Valued Contributor

0

Account Executive

Take a vacation and get out of the country for at least 2 weeks. If you come back and still feel the same way, it could be the company or industry you are in, could be you'll just find more of the same in any sales role, could be it's time for a change in a different career path with less BS.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

0

Business Coach

Find a mentor ASAP. Or hire a coach. Minor changes compounded over time will produce incredible results.

markedclosedwon

Big Shot

0

Account Executive

You don't control the outcome, but you can control your process.

Shit happens.

Keep your head high and go back to the fundamentals (lead gen, nurturing, closing, etc)

SalesHacker has a solid video on this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCkxiHPNRZc

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

© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs

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.