is anyone here in sales?

[rudedawg]

Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

I agree. There are week where I dont really "work" more than 20-30 hours a week. Other weeks, however, I work 40-50 hours a week. It really depends. I actually make more than $130k a year, however, I work in software. I got into software sales right out of law school. I realized that I could make much more selling software than practicing law. Its all in what you sell. Yes, I travel, but not all that much. I spend more time building relationships with prospects and clients. Half of that is taking them out to lunches and dinners, golf, etc. The other half is working in the boardroom.

Thats another reason why its so hard to get out of this business, the money is outstanding, but the hours are better. It leaves me much more time to train and be with my family.

Rarely do I work more than 20 or 30 hours. I mean where I am actually working.

I have an insurance agency and the headaches involved with health insurance in the US right now make we want to go to something different, but the money is too good. Not too many opportunities that I could walk in and make at least 6 figures, although I would still have all my residuals paying me whether I was working them or not. Of course they will go bye bye in a hurry if I don't work them.

Also I work from my house, which allows me to pick my 2 sons up every day and let's me take them to all their practices which I am the coach so I don't have to worry about commute time to get them to the practice. Oldest son's practice will start in 1 hour.

 

[rudedawg]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

I hear you dawg. A lot of people are full of shit. There are few people on this board that I would pay a dime to work with me.

Between my day job, my book and my educational consulting business...let's just say I don't have to scrape by on a few hundred thousand anymore...I am looking to close on a house soon and you're welcome anytime. (After the renovation, anyway)

But to do what I do, I work 100-110 hour weeks most of the time. (yes, 18 a day, 7 days a week). I'm sure you know the feeling. Over the last few years I have gotten to know people in many lines of business, and a lot of these posts are just total horseshit.

Consider that only 6% of American *houesholds* earn $100K per year. For every salesperson that makes $200K a year, there are 50 that are making $33K. I just can't believe all the successful ones are on EF.

To those of you considering this career, I say good luck. But don't believe the hype.

The 80/20 rule always applies, especially to a sales force. You know, 80% do 20% of the business and 20% do 80%.

 

[Genie]

This is an interesting thread. I have been looking into segueing my career into sales. I have been in PR and marketing on the finnacial side for 4 years now. Does anyone know of any good opportunities in the Denver area? My freinds that are in sales now do make a great income, however I see them work their asses off. This is what I am lookign for. Suggestions? Ideas?

 

[bigschweeler]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

Consider that only 6% of American *houesholds* earn $100K per year. For every salesperson that makes $200K a year, there are 50 that are making $33K. I just can't believe all the successful ones are on EF.

I've always wondered this too. I've seen polls on this subject in the past and I'm always suprised there are that many people making over 100K. It certainly is possible, but I'm sure part of it is bravado or misrepresentation.

Most people have to work their asses off to earn that much, and like you say putting in 100-110 hours a week, if it works for you from a lifestyle standpoint, is your choice.

I'm in operations and it's taken me a number of promotions and hard work, being on call 24/7, working nights, weekends, whatever it takes to get me where I am today. I do better than average financially I'd say, and with incentives can make over 100K which I am happy with. From a lifestyle standpoint I wouldn't want to work 100-110 hours per week because it just wouldn't make me happy.

I still have a 10 year plan or so to save, save, save and then get the hell out of corporate America which is unfulfilling to me. I know some people love it and it is a sign of success and prestige. Unfortunately how much you earn in this country is often equivalent to how successful you are, and even how good a person you are. I'd still rather be a poor, but happy student or artist, than a rich, sad, corrupt businessman.

 

[kronk]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

kronk your job description sounds a lot like mine....hours and all. Tell me one thing though.....how do you keep up with eating right and working out?

Well, I get up and train early in the day. When I travel, I make sure the hotel I stay in always has a gym, or they are close to a 24 fitness that I can use by paying daily.

I always carry protien with me ALWAYS. When I travel, all my supps and protien come with me. Last trip to San Fran I brought a 7lb container of Whey with me.

I pre-make all my food the night before. I will cook a shitload of chicken, rice, etc. and seperate them in those ziplock tupperware things. I always have bars and mrps with me as well. Keep them in the car, so I never am without one.

Basically, I always make time for training, to me, thats one of the benifits of software.

 

[Norman Bates]

I was working for a month in a company that was importing machines from the US and distributing them in Europe.
I was talking with the chief salesman for a few minutes and i heard that they are making really a lot if ur good in it.

Also they have special training seminars for their salesman so i guess it can be learned, at least up to a certain degree.
My mom was working some time in insurances.
They got training seminars,too and according to her those techniques worked most time.

 

[kronk]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

I hear you dawg. A lot of people are full of shit. There are few people on this board that I would pay a dime to work with me.

Between my day job, my book and my educational consulting business...let's just say I don't have to scrape by on a few hundred thousand anymore...I am looking to close on a house soon and you're welcome anytime. (After the renovation, anyway)

But to do what I do, I work 100-110 hour weeks most of the time. (yes, 18 a day, 7 days a week). I'm sure you know the feeling. Over the last few years I have gotten to know people in many lines of business, and a lot of these posts are just total horseshit.

Consider that only 6% of American *houesholds* earn $100K per year. For every salesperson that makes $200K a year, there are 50 that are making $33K. I just can't believe all the successful ones are on EF.

To those of you considering this career, I say good luck. But don't believe the hype.

Good post bro. One thing that I would add to this is that in Software Sales, if you are not making well over $100,000 you are truly in the minority. Want proof? Go to Monster.com and look up Software Sales positions. Most positions (with experience), have starting salaries at the minimum of $80k to $100k (that the min), and with comp plans, you are easy at $150k to $200k.

There are for sure a lot of salespeople out there that don't make any money. Sales people are a dime a dozen, lots of them barley make minimum wage. However, software sales is still the exception, and if you are a high level software sales person, you are making at least $250k +.

That's sweet about your business, book and everything else Matt. You truly are an intelligent, educated, brilliant guy. I mean that! I agree with everything that you said as well, including telling people to not believe the hype. However, I will say to anyone that is "good" at sales, do everything you can to get into selling software. You can make a couple hundred thousand a year, doing what you love to do...talking.

 

[kronk]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

so if everyone here is making 100k a year why is there still people buying from EYEPEE just to save a few bucks ? lol

 

[mrbill]

I am getting into sales and advising myself because of the money. I am going to do financial advising and planning. The top guy where I am going made 1.5 million last yr, most guys who have been doing it at least 3 yrs are breaking 200,000 a yr easy. It is definitely not easy, especially at first. I will also have to get series 7, series 66, and series 1 licenses. You definitely have to bust your ass for a while and build up a clientele. I have an mba and am getting CPA, but straight accouting or finance doesn't pay big dollars. If I don't like it, I am going to go into investment banking, good dollars there also. Good luck to all!!

 

[Taps]

These guys are dead on with thier saleries and hours worked.

I basically do corporate sales stuff for a large financial institution. Even though I'm super low on the totem-pole, I still make around 30K/year working half time.

Kronk, what kind of educational background do you have? (Sorry if you've already mentioned it -- I'm half asleep right now, lol). I'm just about finished an Information Systems degree and software sales is something I'm interested in getting into....