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Dear Quota Team

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I'm in my first sales job. I decided to go into sales because I just started a family and the earning potential seems great. I sell to companies all over the world so I get emails at all hours of the day and night. I respond when I can but it's slowly taking over my life. I feel like I have no personal time to really dedicate to my young family. My manager expects me to 'always be on' and respond to prospects/customers immediately. I didn't expect it would require this many hours. Is this normal for sales jobs? I'd like to have some work-life balance. Not sure if there are sales jobs out there with more work-life balance or maybe sales just isn't for me.

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Tired in the Midwest  

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Dear Tired,

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Sacrificing work-life balance in sales is often necessary — more-so than in other professions. If you truly want to excel and maximize earning potential for your family, you'll need to make some sacrifices. That being said, there are sales jobs out there with better work-life balance. If you can, suck it up and try to finish out a full year. Show that you can hustle and hit quota, and you'll be more marketable for your next, hopefully "easier," sales job. If you're not willing to do this, then maybe sales isn't right for you. Good luck!