Understanding the “Ying and Yang” of a Sales Career

We all know the reasons why we chose a career in Sales.  Maybe it was because people told us we have the “gift of gab”? Maybe it was because we had all the traits that are required to do the job . . .  Empathy, Focus, Optimism along with a healthy ego? Maybe we liked getting up in the morning and dressing nice, presenting a confident image to the world. Maybe because your day is never boring—it’s filled with anticipation and excitement, usually generated from opportunities that you seized and acted upon. And there is the financial aspect. The harder that you work, the more money that you make. Because you provide revenue to companies, you reap the financial rewards. But what if that is not the case?

In some sales positions, the sales profession is hired to sell to a target audience that is meager or in a market that is saturated with tons of salespeople selling the same product, or maybe even a better one. Sometimes you’re trying to sell to Enterprise level in a region that has few companies with enough people to even qualify. Or sadly, sometimes, the product being sold has grown so fast that client support is lacking, and soon, there is so much negative conversation among your prospective clients, that you cannot overcome bad PR and sell to anyone.

In those situations, what do you do? Some experts say to get fresh air and sunshine, eat better, get more sleep, and exercise when things are impossible. Some say an important thing to do is to stop commiserating with coworkers about what is not working. Instead, spend time with friends that are always incredibly upbeat and positive. Call the other sales reps in your company who ARE having success, listen to how they do it.  Visiting family is also a great way to remove yourself from the situation for a while to recharge and gain new perspective. Also there are so many online courses now—many free—that will help you feel empowered and that you are doing something constructive for your future, just in case. The top four online education tools are Udemy, Coursera, edX and Clarity to name a few. There even courses on Groupon now as well! And Linkedin has also teamed up with Lynda.com to offer easy access to courses for its members. Also, this is a good time to work on your resume and Linkedin profile as it will give you a good feeling to see your accomplishments in black and white.

If ultimately, your current sales career cannot be salvaged, the truth is sometimes sales opportunities are just not a match for your region or your strengths. In that situation, it’s time to connect with contacts from your past and make new contacts in the sales arena that specialize in sales and sales management so that they can better match you with a more lucrative career where you can excel.

A career in sales will always be a desirable move as it will allow you to earn high income levels quickly, gain valuable life skills—such as self-motivation, presentation, interpersonal and negotiation skills and offers autonomy for those that like freedom and not be micromanaged.  It also offers the opportunity to build a huge network as you are forming your business relationships for sales. The larger your network, the easier your future will be to both sell to new clients and also to network for better job opportunities.

A Hollingsworth, Metro Team Resources – http://www.metroteamresources.com