Calling it unstable is a misnomer. ‘Unsustainable’ is what I would use. I’m fortunate/unfortunate to have never missed quota since my first stint, but I tell you it always feels like luck, like how did it even get this far and close? And many, many deals that should’ve didn’t. You can tick all the boxes perfectly, strong rapport with POC, super engaged, and budget? check and you’d still get the “we’ve decided not to move forward…” So yea, unsustainable.
I can hear the despair in your voice and I can tell you've been listening to a lot of sales material based on the way you speak. You say all the classic tropes sales managers say to motivate the SDRs. I've worked in tech sales and you're right about the burden of being the "performer". However, the worst part about sales is you get burned out very easily doing outbound meetings, but the problem is as soon as you get burned out your results drop and you start to feel the pressure even more because you know you're a day away from getting fired. They call it the Myth of Sisyphus. I walked away from sales a year ago after a 10 year career and I'm glad I did.
sales is by definition unstable. the number one goal of any manager is to have reps being consistent. the number one goal of any rep is to be consistent; to repeat those big days totally agree that if i’m going to put the same hours in i’d rather be in the role that pays the higher upside!
It's the same thing about all jobs where you have a lot of freedom and also risk & reward, like being attorney, for example, or being an entrepreneur. With a huge potential upside you have big downsides, which makes sense, and which I find fascinating because it often brings out the best in people and allows them to grow.
Hi Trent, I'm a long time subscriber, at least since I got into Tech sales 3 years ago. What you've shared is real. And i felt empowered to face the 2025 as I've been given another challenge from SDR to Success Manager. Wishing you the best.
Tech sales is so unstable, I'd rather self-fund an album and start a music career. I got laid off this summer from a very promising tech SDR role. My city's job market is so bad for white collar workers that I decided to return to a fast food job, 6 years after I quit. But I'm not ashamed at all - my coworkers and managers are so kind.
Sometimes it’s not even performance… just this week one of my AEs was let go. He wasn’t great but he wasn’t bad. He hit his quota last qt and was still let go.
When looking for a company to work for what should I be looking for? A lot of companies I’ve never heard of. I see large employee counts like 1k employees to small counts like 15 employees, and I think the larger ones would make it easier for me to not screw up if I’m just getting into the sdr role, but I also don’t know some of these companies. Even if I see they have large funding or good benefits, like even further training, it seems like working for unknown companies with weird names wouldn’t be too long term (unless I’m looking to just bounce from company to company proactively)
I have sort of realized sales may be more stable then Product design or product management. Sales value is straight forward. With product, people always question your value and you end up having to gain buy in and do sales without comisison.
If I do tech sales will I be able to continue modeling on the side and content creation or you believe I won't have time and do you believe I can land a job with mis degree and your course career sales course
Calling it unstable is a misnomer. ‘Unsustainable’ is what I would use.
I’m fortunate/unfortunate to have never missed quota since my first stint, but I tell you it always feels like luck, like how did it even get this far and close? And many, many deals that should’ve didn’t. You can tick all the boxes perfectly, strong rapport with POC, super engaged, and budget? check and you’d still get the “we’ve decided not to move forward…” So yea, unsustainable.
I can hear the despair in your voice and I can tell you've been listening to a lot of sales material based on the way you speak. You say all the classic tropes sales managers say to motivate the SDRs. I've worked in tech sales and you're right about the burden of being the "performer". However, the worst part about sales is you get burned out very easily doing outbound meetings, but the problem is as soon as you get burned out your results drop and you start to feel the pressure even more because you know you're a day away from getting fired. They call it the Myth of Sisyphus. I walked away from sales a year ago after a 10 year career and I'm glad I did.
your assumption is not based in reality
sales is by definition unstable. the number one goal of any manager is to have reps being consistent. the number one goal of any rep is to be consistent; to repeat those big days
totally agree that if i’m going to put the same hours in i’d rather be in the role that pays the higher upside!
It's the same thing about all jobs where you have a lot of freedom and also risk & reward, like being attorney, for example, or being an entrepreneur. With a huge potential upside you have big downsides, which makes sense, and which I find fascinating because it often brings out the best in people and allows them to grow.
well said, that's the truth
Nothing in sales is secure because our income depends on others emotions
in some ways that's true but it's assigning some level of responsibility to external forces. proactive > reactive mindset
TIMING, TERRORITY, TALENT.... you need at least 2 of the 3, as long as those 2 are Territory and Timing.
this is a great take, I agree
Hi Trent, I'm a long time subscriber, at least since I got into Tech sales 3 years ago.
What you've shared is real. And i felt empowered to face the 2025 as I've been given another challenge from SDR to Success Manager.
Wishing you the best.
go crush it, thanks for being part of the community
I’m an R&D engineer and went through multiple layoffs in 2 years. No career is “stable” at this point.
we growth through what we go through
Medicine is bulletproof job security
You cant just go into any career thinking all jobs are safe.. pick the correct tech sales company
Tech sales is so unstable, I'd rather self-fund an album and start a music career. I got laid off this summer from a very promising tech SDR role. My city's job market is so bad for white collar workers that I decided to return to a fast food job, 6 years after I quit. But I'm not ashamed at all - my coworkers and managers are so kind.
hahaha the music industry is the most unstable lol
best of luck brother!
Sometimes it’s not even performance… just this week one of my AEs was let go. He wasn’t great but he wasn’t bad. He hit his quota last qt and was still let go.
dang that's rough
@@TrentDressel Sales is a blood sport! Lol
nothing is stable right now and the election just confirmed Americans are struggling.
When looking for a company to work for what should I be looking for? A lot of companies I’ve never heard of. I see large employee counts like 1k employees to small counts like 15 employees, and I think the larger ones would make it easier for me to not screw up if I’m just getting into the sdr role, but I also don’t know some of these companies. Even if I see they have large funding or good benefits, like even further training, it seems like working for unknown companies with weird names wouldn’t be too long term (unless I’m looking to just bounce from company to company proactively)
look for a company you are excited about and really understand
I have sort of realized sales may be more stable then Product design or product management. Sales value is straight forward. With product, people always question your value and you end up having to gain buy in and do sales without comisison.
fair point, hard to quantify value in product roles
Great Job! with this video. felt you were honest.
thank you
Didn't you qualify the budget before you got that far? That shouldn't be an issue that late
If I do tech sales will I be able to continue modeling on the side and content creation or you believe I won't have time and do you believe I can land a job with mis degree and your course career sales course
go all in on one thing
not true customer success does have quotes in some jobs
at my company , Customer success mgr also have quota on their head , to make them accountability... in summary AE is padi more than admin staff
nobody is safe
How many hours a day do u work
all day
I needed today. I WILL BE UNDENIABLE. Thanks bro
go get it