Has anyone done Sales?

Murk

Master Don Juan
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
4,400
Reaction score
3,342
Age
35
Location
London
I've been in sales 9-10 years, I put in the hard graft (late nights, 12-14 hour shifts, smashing the phones, emails, dinners, drinks, network building, numbers game etc) and last 4 years I started my own firm self-employed.

I now automate my outbound BD (business development), limit cold calls to never doing them and use my existing network (23,000 relevant connects on LinkedIn) and also trade/invest as a side hustle.

I'm an extrovert which helped to start, since covid/starting my business/WFH, I've felt that energy fade but still have enough in the tank to get sh1t done.

10% commission doesn't mean anything on it's own, you could be pulling 10% on a £1000 deal or on a £250,000 deal. My typical terms of business are 15-20% UK and 20-30% EU/U.S/CAN. For example last week I just placed a dude on €120,000 base at 20% earning me €24,000 (£20,000) and as it's outside of the UK I pay (and charge) 0% VAT (value added tax). On Monday a guy started as a contractor for me in Belgium earning me £1000 per month for the next 4 years. My biggest single deal working for a firm was £51,000 of which I took home only £12,750, you do that enough times and you realise you can do it for yourself and take it all.

Sales commission depends on what you're selling and the frequency. I prefer slightly bigger hitters that I can get a quick turnaround on. Less work and stress, bigger chunks of cash consistently. If you are good at sales and have the ability to pull clients, starting your own firm is a life changer/no brainer.
 

Clockwerk50

Master Don Juan
Joined
Aug 5, 2023
Messages
702
Reaction score
461
Age
39
I’m in sales/account management. Company operates through their 80/20 rule mantra which means to utilize our 80% of our effort into our top 20% bigger customers. Basically, we just have to go to these sites and massage the shoulders of our client’s buyers and tell them everything is going to be alright.

Last few years have been record breaking so we have not had any pressure in getting new clients. We have 17% of the market share and our commission is based on the %difference growth of last years to the current year. My job is basically making sure that our clients do not go to the competition and sign 8 agreements per year. Although like I said there was no pressure we just started to decline sales wise about 3 months ago so things my start to turn ugly.
 

Divorced w 3

Master Don Juan
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Messages
2,585
Reaction score
1,461
I've been in sales 9-10 years, I put in the hard graft (late nights, 12-14 hour shifts, smashing the phones, emails, dinners, drinks, network building, numbers game etc) and last 4 years I started my own firm self-employed.

I now automate my outbound BD (business development), limit cold calls to never doing them and use my existing network (23,000 relevant connects on LinkedIn) and also trade/invest as a side hustle.

I'm an extrovert which helped to start, since covid/starting my business/WFH, I've felt that energy fade but still have enough in the tank to get sh1t done.

10% commission doesn't mean anything on it's own, you could be pulling 10% on a £1000 deal or on a £250,000 deal. My typical terms of business are 15-20% UK and 20-30% EU/U.S/CAN. For example last week I just placed a dude on €120,000 base at 20% earning me €24,000 (£20,000) and as it's outside of the UK I pay (and charge) 0% VAT (value added tax). On Monday a guy started as a contractor for me in Belgium earning me £1000 per month for the next 4 years. My biggest single deal working for a firm was £51,000 of which I took home only £12,750, you do that enough times and you realise you can do it for yourself and take it all.

Sales commission depends on what you're selling and the frequency. I prefer slightly bigger hitters that I can get a quick turnaround on. Less work and stress, bigger chunks of cash consistently. If you are good at sales and have the ability to pull clients, starting your own firm is a life changer/no brainer.
Sales and entrepreneurship has also made me a better father.
 

Divorced w 3

Master Don Juan
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Messages
2,585
Reaction score
1,461
Having no base salary or a job that relies on commission/bonus would not motivate me. I'd rather just start with something simple that isn't so high pressure
When my son was born, I had left a cushy organization and I was making $100 a week selling. It was insanely uncomfortable. I’m going to make $500,000 this year and I am doing national speaking for a major organization.

I mean this respectfully but if you don’t want to eat what you kill, if you aren’t willing to eventually break off on your own and pave your own way, this won’t be a fulfilling path for you.

The beauty of sales is reasonably unlimited upside and the best salespeople have ambitions to either run their own business or be a major senior player at their company and develop organizational policy.
 

FlexpertHamilton

Master Don Juan
Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
2,713
Reaction score
3,140
Location
US
I'm starting to pitch to random people I talk to. I just pitched to a girl I was talking to I met from Hinge lmfao. I think my personality suits the more casual and laid back approach (which is why they hired me apparently).
 

Divorced w 3

Master Don Juan
Joined
Nov 20, 2022
Messages
2,585
Reaction score
1,461
I'm starting to pitch to random people I talk to. I just pitched to a girl I was talking to I met from Hinge lmfao. I think my personality suits the more casual and laid back approach (which is why they hired me apparently).
Nice. Casual and genuine is important but don’t forget that there will come a time when you have to advise your client firmly - that’s the time you’re really making the money they’re paying you for, when you have to stick your neck out and take an uncomfortable position for their greater good.
 

eli77

Master Don Juan
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Messages
2,214
Reaction score
440
Location
Miami fl
real estate sales is over rated .Being bilingual is a plus hope you crush it.
 

bella_gray14

New Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2024
Messages
9
Reaction score
1
Age
30
I tried doing it once, but sales is not for me. I have tried it but I cannot work properly under pressure. I have worked under other departments, but sales target is not for me.
 
Top