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Pull up a cuppa coffee and let me tell you a story about career changes.
Years ago, I knew I needed to get away from my Big Pharma job. I was dying a slow death.
I was looking through our local paper and responded to a tech support job at a company I had never heard of.
Years ago, I knew I needed to get away from my Big Pharma job. I was dying a slow death.
I was looking through our local paper and responded to a tech support job at a company I had never heard of.
That company had a weird name. It looked like a misspelling.
But I'm sharp, so I "corrected" it. Wrong. My first impression to them was I couldn't even spell their name right.
Somehow, I managed to get an interview. Turns out my future boss and I went to the same college.
But I'm sharp, so I "corrected" it. Wrong. My first impression to them was I couldn't even spell their name right.
Somehow, I managed to get an interview. Turns out my future boss and I went to the same college.
First lesson in the power of connections.
During the interview he tells me, I think you could do this suppport job well, but I need you in sales.
I took the plunge. I also took a 40% pay cut to get out of Big Pharma. My wife and kids were looking at me to keep it all rolling.
During the interview he tells me, I think you could do this suppport job well, but I need you in sales.
I took the plunge. I also took a 40% pay cut to get out of Big Pharma. My wife and kids were looking at me to keep it all rolling.
So, the motiviation to succeed in sales was high. An uncapped commission plan was the carrot. Base pay was abysmal.
After three successful years, I had an opportunity within the industry to change companies and double my pay.
My original boss had become my mentor.
After three successful years, I had an opportunity within the industry to change companies and double my pay.
My original boss had become my mentor.
He encouraged me to take the job. Good company, not a direct competitor per se, great opportunity.
He would tell me, no harm in having a conversation.
I owe him a lot. He gave me my foot into an industry I had very little business getting into. He saw in me what I didn't see.
He would tell me, no harm in having a conversation.
I owe him a lot. He gave me my foot into an industry I had very little business getting into. He saw in me what I didn't see.
Everyone told me "don't be that guy that job hops". This was in the 90's. I knew that there was little loyalty any more from employer or employee.
So, every 2-3 years, I changed companies, same industry, but better companies, better products, better reputations.
Kept selling.
So, every 2-3 years, I changed companies, same industry, but better companies, better products, better reputations.
Kept selling.
9/11 had me watching NYC burn on TV. I was too old to enlist. Managed to find a company that I could take my skill set to, one that worked within this new Homeland Security world.
Small company but they had lightning in a bottle. Sales guys were topping $500K easily.
Small company but they had lightning in a bottle. Sales guys were topping $500K easily.
So all those job hops, all that experience gained with various technologies, paid off. All those technologies were inter-related so I was self cross-trained across the industry.
When this new niche opened up, I leveraged my way in. I've never looked back.
When this new niche opened up, I leveraged my way in. I've never looked back.
The products I sell are the best in class.
My customers are great people to work with.
At this point, I'm not just the sales guy. I'm the trusted advisor, the consultant who fights for them.
These guys are my friends.
My customers are great people to work with.
At this point, I'm not just the sales guy. I'm the trusted advisor, the consultant who fights for them.
These guys are my friends.
All this came to be from taking chances along the way, never wavering on my belief in myself and thinking of myself as a Free Agent.
"If you don't hire me, your competition will."
I would literally say that in each interview. I was cocky.
"If you don't hire me, your competition will."
I would literally say that in each interview. I was cocky.
I credit an epiphany I had about sales as a career. I learned to be great by following Three Simple Rules of Success.
You can read them here: https://texasdom.com/2018/01/three-rules-of-success/
You can read them here: https://texasdom.com/2018/01/three-rules-of-success/
