re: Are people in sales dead inside?

There’s a big difference between low to mid level sales and high salary, corporate level sales.

I’m fortunate enough to be in the latter. I would never be a company truck driving, commission based salesperson. Most of those guys are fat and stressed, and get micromanaged through call reports.

I’m in sales, no tits fake or otherwise, completely dead inside, tell the truth, piss people off but once they get over it are happy I did and become repeat customers.

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Those who can....do

Those who can't....sell

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"What is 'Things you'll never hear a Vegas prostitute say' for $500, Alex."

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I know a guy "in sales" although i dont' know wtf he sells, somethign with technology or something. That guy gets to travel all over, play fancy golf courses, take clients to vegas, it really seems like the guy is just paid to party professionally with potential clients and get paid 6 figures for it. I can assure you he isnt' dead inside.

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Maybe your guy is a sales engineer like me as this has been my experience the past 10 years. Been to Vegas plenty of times on my employer's dime.

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tell the truth, piss people off but once they get over it are happy I did and become repeat customers.

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Its pretty easy to make a living in sales. Its not easy to get rich off of sales without being somewhat disconnected from emotion.

If you have a kickass product that you believe in, I get it. I am too cynical for that.

I love sales. You get to help people. I have worked in the hardwood lumber business for over 30 years. Couldn’t imagine doing anything else. We import the lumber and sell it nationally. My customers are like friends to me. I’ve been selling some of the same customers so long I’ve watched many of their children grow up and join the family business. The Vietnamese door and shutter customers in Baton Rouge are my largest volume buying customers and I enjoy dealing with them. It’s fun. Our customers need hard to get lumber. My company imports this kind of lumber. Sure there is some negotiation on pricing but the market kind of sets itself on that issue. Bottom line though if I’m one of the only companies in this country that has what you need the negotiations are simple. Either pay what I want for my product or go buy it elsewhere. We have to make a profit and so does our customers. There is a middle ground where we can all meet so everyone makes money. I look at my customers and think how can I help this company make more money. I’ve formed business relationships built strictly off the idea how do we both make money so we can keep buying quality lumber and they keep purchasing our lumber.

I would be unhappy though if I sold a product I didn’t believe in. But what I do sell there are plenty of customers that need it and they appreciate a person like myself that is honest and looking to help them grow their business in hopes of many years of repeat business. The years I spent in management were not as fun as sales. Good grief in management you had to be a motivator, psychological counselor, disciplinarian, and deal with the talking heads at all levels from the corporate office. And if you are an exceptional earner for the company you work for they let you do whatever you want long as you are earning your employer a bunch of money. Management side of things everyone wants a piece of your butt 24/7.

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sounds like you need a better pay structure.

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Lol

You are kidding. Right?

My employer should pay me when I'm not selling?

100% comp is the best pay structure in the world.

I was only explaining why "salespeople" have a hard time taking 1 to 2 weeks for a vacation. They could be dropping 25% to 50% of next month's paycheck.

I have the flexibility to see all of my kids track, tennis, basketball, swim, baseball/softball, volleyball, cross country meets. I make all of the scout hikes and camps.

The tradeoff is that I have only had 1 vacation with my family that extended Monday thru Friday in the past 20 years.

I think it depends on if you make enough money, represent a good company, the company can support you/your sales without messing up often, and you get along with your boss. You’ll probably won’t be dead inside

If you are in sales or any job where some this criteria is missing you will likely feel dead inside often

In sales. Not dead inside.

I am fortunately able to follow an ethical practice, as I sell an established, trusted brand. I never intended on being in sales like this. Opportunity presented itself, and it has changed my life financially.

It is not for the faint of heart, but if you are generally mentally/emotionally healthy person, you can do it without being at either end of the spectrum described. Being even keeled is actually a much better approach.

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Those who can....do

Those who can't....sell

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And if they can sell well they make a lot more than the people doing shite