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Dear Quota Team
I used to work at one of the largest tech companies out there. I was a BDR for a year out of college and then got promoted to SMB AE. I was let go due to random layoffs after only 3 months in the AE role. Shortly after, I joined a smaller company (150 employees). The company does software consulting and I’ve been here for about 9 months now. I’m selling at the enterprise level with a 2 mil quota.
Everyone is really nice and the job is remote with occasional travel to random conferences that I believe are a waste of time/money. I’m losing motivation and sometimes don’t know what to do. Any tips/advice on selling in this environment would be appreciated. Do I leave? Do I try something new? I used to be very motivated but that has recently dwindled. I’m not sure if sales is for me anymore…
Uninspired in Florida
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Dear Uninspired,
What you’re doing isn’t working, so you need a paradigm shift. This might mean finding another sales job, or leaving sales entirely. But before you do anything drastic, you need to change the channel in your mind.
One of the best ways to do this is to go on a trip (a non-work trip to be exact). Take a week off and go somewhere. Try not to overschedule yourself so you have some time to think. Think on the plane or in the car. Think when you get there. What do you want? What’s missing?
Chances are, you already know the answer to your question, you just need to flesh it out. And try to take the pressure off yourself a bit. You’re still young (24, according to your submission form), and you can change careers and change back a dozen more times. But before you quit, make sure you know whether it’s the job, the profession, or something else. Good luck.
