Sales is much tougher than most people on the outside think. There is a lot of pressure, stress and you are responsible for your own success or failure. Having said that, it can also be super fun and allows for freedom you cannot find in other roles.
I have three bits of advice for you: 1) Take a break. Not a career break, but a sabbatical or a long vacation. Most companies would prefer that someone take time off (possibly unpaid?) to circumvent burnout if that individual comes back refreshed and ready to deliver. 2) Find a job (possibly a sales job) with a company that excites you. You mention fitness, maybe look at MyFitnessPal or Nike or selling tickets for a local sports team that you are excited about. If one has a passion for mental wellness look at Calm or Headspace* (I'll get back to this*). If you have a passion for cooking look for Resy or Zagat or GrubHub...my point here is that if you LOVE what you sell, it might not feel as much like selling. 3) Take breaks through out the day; schedule them...block your calendar. Take 10 minutes to do a Headspace meditation. Schedule 30 minutes and take a walk (or take your dog or A dog for a walk). Start your day at a certain time and end it at a certain time and DO NOT break that habit unless it is a work emergency.
All of us in sales have been there; trust me...you've got this.
I think you just identified the issue. You've been grinding away without a significant mental or personal break. Doing that with any job would get you that result. I've been there, by the way, and it sucks. What I did was begin by setting personal guideline and goals (stuff like getting enough sleep, getting on a fitness program that I like, finding passions and hobbies outside of work, etc.). Once I got my personal life sorted, then I took this approach to work. I set guard rails around things like calendar management (lunch or break times) and I took time off (three-day weekends here and there, etc.). The discipline comes in when you feel uncomfortable and your old negative habits and thought processes intrude. You have to stick to the plan but, trust me, it will pay in significant dividends. If your boss is pressuring you on this, push back respectfully but firmly. If necessary, get another sales job. Lots of good ones out there right now and companies need you more than you need them. Good luck on your path!
I recently transitioned into a MM Product Success Manager role at Adobe, after spending the last 8 years in sales. It's more product oriented, and similar to a Customer Success Manager role, but also still requires sales DNA as 12.5% of your OTE is based on quota. But 75% is guaranteed pay, which is nice. DM me if you want more info on comp, job responsibilities etc.
I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I have been feeling this way myself lately. I think I am just to a point where I want to do something more fulfilling because that is what I value right now more than the money.
Same! I’m exhausted and want something more meaningful. I’m looking to transition into a project manager role now. It is very hard to break into I’m finding.
I think you need to go to your passions and look there. It may be a complete transition and perhaps pay not comparable but in the end your happiness is based on your love/passion. Im afraid good pay transition is just going to lead to the same outcome
You could recruit for an agency. Most offer a good base plus commission. My company's recruiters did not sell to companies, they only found the best people for the job. Having to do both is called "running a full desk". You do NOT want that kind of recruiting job. Internal recruiting is a very fun low pressure role that doesnt pay as well, but still often has a good base plus commissions. Its mainly all relationship building.
Consulting or Recruiting are the main things. If you've saved enough from your current job all the better because the market is quite volatile now and not many companies may be hiring for such a role. But the pay is great when you do
To be honest, I got onto this career path when I was young because I felt like I had no hard skills and wanted a path to make easy money. I did that and now I don’t even know where to go because I feel like I’ve just been winging it with my soft skills. I have lost touch of health and fitness which has been my main hobby. I have no family (e.g. spouse, children, etc…) so I can’t really dig deep and use that as my why.
Ive been thinking maybe I could take a pay cut and use some of my skills to try my hand at project coordination and use that to try and get a PM but I’m too afraid of the lifestyle gap that would cause. I want my cake and to eat it too, I guess.
You mean you're tired of quotas going up every year while resources and support go down trying to do more with less? Because me too
Sales is much tougher than most people on the outside think. There is a lot of pressure, stress and you are responsible for your own success or failure. Having said that, it can also be super fun and allows for freedom you cannot find in other roles.
I have three bits of advice for you:
1) Take a break. Not a career break, but a sabbatical or a long vacation. Most companies would prefer that someone take time off (possibly unpaid?) to circumvent burnout if that individual comes back refreshed and ready to deliver.
2) Find a job (possibly a sales job) with a company that excites you. You mention fitness, maybe look at MyFitnessPal or Nike or selling tickets for a local sports team that you are excited about. If one has a passion for mental wellness look at Calm or Headspace* (I'll get back to this*). If you have a passion for cooking look for Resy or Zagat or GrubHub...my point here is that if you LOVE what you sell, it might not feel as much like selling.
3) Take breaks through out the day; schedule them...block your calendar. Take 10 minutes to do a Headspace meditation. Schedule 30 minutes and take a walk (or take your dog or A dog for a walk). Start your day at a certain time and end it at a certain time and DO NOT break that habit unless it is a work emergency.
All of us in sales have been there; trust me...you've got this.
I think you just identified the issue. You've been grinding away without a significant mental or personal break. Doing that with any job would get you that result. I've been there, by the way, and it sucks. What I did was begin by setting personal guideline and goals (stuff like getting enough sleep, getting on a fitness program that I like, finding passions and hobbies outside of work, etc.). Once I got my personal life sorted, then I took this approach to work. I set guard rails around things like calendar management (lunch or break times) and I took time off (three-day weekends here and there, etc.). The discipline comes in when you feel uncomfortable and your old negative habits and thought processes intrude. You have to stick to the plan but, trust me, it will pay in significant dividends. If your boss is pressuring you on this, push back respectfully but firmly. If necessary, get another sales job. Lots of good ones out there right now and companies need you more than you need them. Good luck on your path!
I recently transitioned into a MM Product Success Manager role at Adobe, after spending the last 8 years in sales. It's more product oriented, and similar to a Customer Success Manager role, but also still requires sales DNA as 12.5% of your OTE is based on quota. But 75% is guaranteed pay, which is nice. DM me if you want more info on comp, job responsibilities etc.
I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I have been feeling this way myself lately. I think I am just to a point where I want to do something more fulfilling because that is what I value right now more than the money.
Chief
The sole reason to be in a sales role is to get to financial independence. Are you there yet?
Same! I’m exhausted and want something more meaningful. I’m looking to transition into a project manager role now. It is very hard to break into I’m finding.
I think you need to go to your passions and look there. It may be a complete transition and perhaps pay not comparable but in the end your happiness is based on your love/passion. Im afraid good pay transition is just going to lead to the same outcome
Recruiting
You could recruit for an agency. Most offer a good base plus commission. My company's recruiters did not sell to companies, they only found the best people for the job. Having to do both is called "running a full desk". You do NOT want that kind of recruiting job. Internal recruiting is a very fun low pressure role that doesnt pay as well, but still often has a good base plus commissions. Its mainly all relationship building.
Consulting or Recruiting are the main things. If you've saved enough from your current job all the better because the market is quite volatile now and not many companies may be hiring for such a role. But the pay is great when you do
Perhaps there's some past work or interests that will help you make a decision. Is there anything you wanted to do before you got into sales?
To be honest, I got onto this career path when I was young because I felt like I had no hard skills and wanted a path to make easy money. I did that and now I don’t even know where to go because I feel like I’ve just been winging it with my soft skills. I have lost touch of health and fitness which has been my main hobby. I have no family (e.g. spouse, children, etc…) so I can’t really dig deep and use that as my why.
Ive been thinking maybe I could take a pay cut and use some of my skills to try my hand at project coordination and use that to try and get a PM but I’m too afraid of the lifestyle gap that would cause. I want my cake and to eat it too, I guess.
Have you thought about consulting?
Lol, I sell technology consulting ATM.
Is there a consulting niche that sales people go into? The only way I can see that happening is if I find a way to break into becoming a BA/PM/OCM.
Partnerships or Strategy?