People in sales: how do you disconnect

OOOR

I am not in sales, but I have been feeling the same thing...first time in my career that I feel this way, but I actually go to bed dreading waking up the next day...

I didn't take much time off for the holidays and I can really see a big difference in how fast I am burning out this year...

In sales and I'm always working bro, no disconnect. I don't mind and the money is great!

Most will disagree, but after many, many years of quotas, emails, cells, texts......you can't shake the feeling you have. This is my first year on a base plus bonus comp plan and I can finally see how some reps relax. I have always been 100 percent comm, I loved the uncapp d income, this new deal is lame, but relaxing.

I haven't taken four weeks of real, can't reach me, vacations in 10 years. Don't do that

In sales: you don't get to disconnect. Unless you own your own rep group.

Get use to it. Its how it is.

You didn't explain what you needed to disconnect from.

I shoot sporting clays and fish a couple afternoons a week and play some Rec sports. I usually feel extremely refreshed out of any of these. I also go to LSU sporting events. During none of these do I actually disconnect from my phone though.

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tigerbandpiccolo

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I would love an answer.

Military here, just moved back to the states from Hawaii, have 30k less in our bank accounts per year because of that. Sole NCO in a 70 person flight, and have all the responsibilities that come with that primarily on me and my 2 officers along with 7 fresh airmen I am trying to set on the right foot along with all the other bullshite that come along with being a good NCO.

Have been burnt out on it for a while.

I've had customers in Dallas call me while I was sitting in Tiger Stadium watching LSU beat Arkansas during one of those day after Thanksgiving games. I sold print advertising. The customer wanted me to check the paper to make sure their ad made it because his phone wasn't ringing like it normally would when we ran his ads.

Had to call a co-worker & get them to assist. Develop friendships with other conscientious salespeople within your company. You need someone you know you can depend on that will treat your clients as well as they'd treat their own.

Working for a weekly publication, I would have never been able to take a vacation without someone I could trust helping while I was gone. I had people that had to be seen, called or emailed every week.

I always did the same for the coworker when they were out.

In a emergency situation having a great manager that was willing to deal with your clients helps a lot too. My old boss was the kind of guy that would go see or talk on the phone with a client to take care of situations that arose.

Hell, my last boss filled out every salesperson on our team's weekly reports for us. The manager on the other side of the office harassed her people until they stopped down & took the time to do them for her every week. We were out selling while they we in the office filling out reports. My boss knew where his bread was buttered.

I'm not in sales, but I certainly have grinded in every job ever. I can absolutely relate. I've tried different things. I have been passionate about every job at the beginning but sort of got bored and left for the next challenge. Now I understand it is about feeling like I am still challenging myself, still working toward a goal. Without that, then it is senseless grinding and just feels like a prison. Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals are a huge benefit in making it less monotonous.

Also, I find it is very important to take personal time to recharge. It is important to have it planned out in advance and on a regular basis so you know when it is coming. I make sure that 1 day a week is entirely for me - usually on Saturday. No work allowed that day, just quality time doing whatever.

Also, studies show that multiple 3 day weekends do a lot more to recharge you then a big week long or two week vacation. So every once in a while, I'll take a 3 day weekend. I have not taken more than 1 weekday off in years, but the multiple 3 day weekends work wonders.

So that is my suggestion after having been doing this for a decade. Always feel like you are working toward a goal, make sure to schedule personal time in advance so you know it is coming, and take multiple 3 day weekends throughout the year rather than one big vacation.

You're never gonna win a Cadillac El Dorado with that attitude.