The Untold Truth About Working In Sales (My Experience)

Travis S

23 Sept 201805:12

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the speaker discusses the reality of working in sales, highlighting the grit, resilience, and discipline needed to succeed. They share their daily routine, starting at 4:30 a.m. with a gym session to prepare for the chaotic day ahead. The speaker debunks common sales stereotypes, emphasizing the hard work required to achieve success, like early starts and constant hustle. They acknowledge the stress but also the immense rewards of closing deals and building client relationships, concluding that while sales isn't for everyone, it's a fulfilling, fast-paced career for those who love a challenge.

Takeaways

🏋️‍♂️ The speaker values the quiet and calm of early mornings, using that time to hit the gym and take care of themselves before the chaos of the workday begins.
👨‍💼 Transitioning from an accountant to a sales professional is uncommon, but the speaker has embraced the challenges and opportunities in sales.
🚶‍♂️ Success in sales is about persistence, grit, and hitting the pavement—true professionals start early and work hard throughout the day.
📞 Sales involves a fast-paced, demanding environment where constant communication, appointments, and strategizing are key components of the job.
💪 The speaker emphasizes that you don’t need special skills to succeed in sales—discipline and a strong work ethic are what truly matter.
😅 Sales can be stressful when deals don’t close or customers don’t respond, but the highs of landing a successful deal are incredibly rewarding.
🌟 Believing in the product or service being sold is essential for a sales professional to feel gratified and successful in their role.
🤝 Salespeople are problem solvers, working to enhance their customers' businesses, even if they are sometimes perceived negatively.
💼 Sales is hard, taxing, and stressful, but it’s also fun, rewarding, and offers new challenges and adventures every day.
📧 The work doesn't stop at 5 or 6 p.m.—many sales professionals continue with emails, paperwork, and deal drafting late into the night.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the transcript?
-The main theme of the transcript is the dedication, discipline, and resilience required to succeed in a sales career, emphasizing the personal and professional challenges that come with it.
Why does the speaker emphasize the sound of 'feet pounding the pavement'?
-The speaker uses the sound of 'feet pounding the pavement' as a metaphor for the hard work and persistence that defines the life of a sales professional. It symbolizes the grind and effort necessary to succeed in the field.
What does the speaker's 4:30 a.m. routine signify?
-The 4:30 a.m. routine signifies the speaker's commitment to self-care and discipline. They use this early morning time to focus on personal fitness and mental clarity, which they believe is crucial to performing well in both their personal and professional life.
Why did the speaker transition from accounting to sales, and why is this transition unusual?
-The speaker transitioned from accounting to sales because they were attracted to the fast-paced and dynamic nature of sales. This transition is considered unusual because accounting and sales typically require different skill sets and personalities, making it a rare career change.
What stereotypes about sales professionals does the speaker address?
-The speaker addresses stereotypes that sales professionals are lazy, work minimal hours, and spend their time at bars by noon on Fridays. The speaker challenges these stereotypes by explaining that top performers in sales are disciplined, hardworking, and committed to long hours.
What does the speaker find most rewarding about working in sales?
-The speaker finds the most rewarding aspect of sales to be the feeling of satisfaction when successfully closing a deal that will enhance a customer’s business. This success provides a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
How does the speaker view the challenges and stresses of a sales career?
-The speaker acknowledges that working in sales can be stressful and challenging, especially when deals aren't closing and customers are unresponsive. Despite this, they find the career rewarding and exciting, and they embrace the ups and downs.
What qualities does the speaker believe are essential for success in sales?
-The speaker believes that discipline, persistence, and a strong work ethic are more important than intelligence or technical skills for success in sales. The key is to consistently put in the effort and keep moving forward despite setbacks.
What does the speaker say about the perception of salespeople being 'greedy' or 'deceiving'?
-The speaker argues that true sales professionals are problem-solvers, not greedy or deceiving. They emphasize that sales teams are essential for business success and that their goal is to provide solutions, not to cause problems or annoy customers.
What does the speaker's persistence in personal matters, like texting a girl for a year, say about their approach to sales?
-The speaker's persistence in personal matters, such as texting a girl for a year to get her to hang out, reflects their approach to sales—relentless persistence and a willingness to put in the time and effort to achieve long-term success.

Outlines

00:00

🏃‍♂️ Early Mornings and Sales Grit

The speaker reflects on how early morning workouts symbolize resilience and grit for sales professionals. They cherish the quiet time at 4:30 a.m., before the day’s chaos, to focus on self-care. The speaker shares their journey from accounting to sales, noting the demanding yet rewarding nature of the job. Contrary to common stereotypes, true success in sales comes from hard work, discipline, and perseverance, not a laid-back lifestyle.

05:01

🚀 The Fast-Paced Sales Life

Sales is a high-speed career where the speaker is constantly on the go—making calls, attending appointments, strategizing, and working with their team. The appeal of sales is its fast pace, and while no special skills are required, dedication and discipline are essential. The speaker highlights the pressure of the job, where successes and failures are both part of the experience. Despite the challenges, the highs—like closing a deal—make it all worthwhile.

😌 The Realities of Sales: Stress and Rewards

The speaker acknowledges that sales can be stressful, especially when deals don't land or calls go unanswered. Sales has delivered both the lowest and highest points in their career, but the joy of seeing a satisfied customer makes the effort rewarding. They emphasize that true sales professionals solve problems rather than push products, and despite negative stereotypes, sales are essential to keeping businesses running. Persistence is key, as rejection is part of the process.

💪 Persistence: A Key to Success

The speaker shares a personal story about texting someone every day for a year before getting a response, using it as an analogy for the persistence needed in sales. They stress that being told 'no' is part of the job, but staying resilient leads to success. Sales, though demanding, is incredibly gratifying for those willing to put in the work.

💻 Balancing Work and Life in Sales

The speaker concludes with a glimpse into their daily routine. After working all day, they often log back in during the evening to respond to emails and finalize deals, sometimes working late into the night. They acknowledge that this lifestyle isn't for everyone but find it deeply fulfilling. Sales offers constant new challenges and opportunities, and the speaker thrives on the unpredictable, fast-paced nature of the job.

🙌 Closing Remarks and Shoutouts

The speaker wraps up by thanking their videographer and encouraging viewers to leave comments about their thoughts on sales. They invite input from both sales professionals and those outside the industry, noting that the video might shift or affirm people’s perspectives on the field. Finally, they express excitement for future interactions with their audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Grit

Grit refers to perseverance and passion for long-term goals. In the video, it is highlighted as a crucial trait for success in sales, where professionals must stay determined despite constant challenges, such as early mornings and rejection. The narrator equates the sound of 'feet pounding the pavement' with grit, symbolizing hard work and endurance.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. In sales, resilience is essential when facing rejection or failure, and the video emphasizes that successful salespeople need this trait to keep pushing forward even when deals don't close or calls go unanswered. It underlines how resilience separates top performers from the rest.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the act of staying focused and following a structured routine to achieve goals. The video emphasizes discipline through examples like working out at 4:30 a.m. and following a consistent work schedule. For the narrator, discipline is a key driver of success in sales, where hard work and consistency matter more than intelligence or technical skills.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity refers to the potential for success or advancement. In the sales context, the narrator frequently refers to seizing opportunities through hard work, whether it’s pounding the pavement or being persistent with clients. Salespeople are portrayed as always looking for the next opportunity, whether through calls, meetings, or networking.

💡Chaos

Chaos represents the hectic and fast-paced nature of working in sales. The narrator describes the constant activity from morning until night, from making calls to attending meetings, answering emails, and preparing deals. This chaos is something the narrator thrives on, viewing it as part of the excitement and challenge of the job.

💡Persistence

Persistence is the continuous effort toward a goal despite obstacles or setbacks. In sales, this is illustrated by the narrator’s story of pursuing a girl for a year before she agreed to spend time with him, relating it to the same level of persistence needed to succeed in closing deals and maintaining client relationships.

💡Sales stereotypes

Sales stereotypes are the negative perceptions often associated with salespeople, such as being lazy, deceitful, or only working minimal hours. The narrator addresses and challenges these stereotypes by contrasting them with the reality of hardworking, disciplined sales professionals who are committed to solving problems for their clients.

💡Top performers

Top performers refer to the highest achievers in a sales team, often those who win recognition such as the President’s Club. These individuals distinguish themselves through discipline, early starts, and consistently hitting targets. The narrator aspires to be among these top performers and contrasts their work ethic with that of average salespeople.

💡Problem-solving

Problem-solving is the ability to find solutions to challenges faced by customers. The video emphasizes that true sales professionals focus on helping clients solve problems through the products or services they offer. Rather than being pushy or deceitful, the narrator portrays sales as a process of identifying and addressing customer needs.

💡Work-life balance

Work-life balance refers to managing time effectively between professional responsibilities and personal well-being. In the video, the narrator discusses the importance of personal health and using early mornings to work out before the workday begins, suggesting that taking care of oneself is necessary for maintaining the energy required to succeed in sales.

Highlights

Sales professionals see the sound of feet pounding the pavement as a symbol of grit and opportunity.

The quiet time at 4:30 AM is invaluable for self-care and gym workouts, as it's a moment for calm before the day's chaos.

Taking care of oneself is essential for being able to care for others, like family, friends, and customers.

Transitioning from accounting to sales is uncommon, but it was a pivotal moment in the speaker's career.

There are many stereotypes about salespeople being lazy, but top performers get in early and work hard throughout the day.

Success in sales is not about special skills but about discipline and putting in consistent work.

The fast pace of sales work, from calls to meetings to strategizing, is a major draw for the speaker.

Sales has given the speaker both the lowest lows and the highest highs in their career.

The rewarding feeling of closing a deal and knowing it will enhance a customer’s business is unparalleled.

Being told 'no' is a regular part of the job, and resilience and persistence are key to long-term success.

The speaker shares a personal anecdote of persistence, texting someone every day for a year to get them to hang out.

Despite the stress and challenges, the speaker finds sales to be rewarding, fun, and full of new adventures.

The evening hours are often spent replying to emails, drafting deals, and preparing for the next day.

Sales professionals aim to solve problems for businesses, and their work is essential to the functioning of the economy.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of loving what you're selling to find true gratification in the job.