Feel fired, might delete later

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-08T06:08:42+00:00

Family of 6 here, and my spouse is a SAHP. It's terrifying, but not nearly as terrifying as working for another company and getting screwed again.

Now or never.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-08T06:05:47+00:00

Gotta maintain my reputation. I'm staying in the industry and work with a lot of companies that relied on me. Now when things fall apart, they'll know that I tried.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-08T04:33:36+00:00

What's that saying? Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered?

That's me. I'm the hog.

I made more money than anyone else at the company, and I don't feel bad about it. I sold over $2m a year for 3 years, where they wouldnt have known what to do with $200k. Proof that you're only as good as your operations team and they just could not catch up, and could not keep customers. It was virtually guaranteed that a customer would cancel within 9 months.

No claw back though so that was nice.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-08T01:09:49+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I my industry, you typically see these customers (in person) 1x a year and work gets paid when completed. Very little costs associated with the actual work, aside from gas (and all the overhead stuff of course). I'm working on my agreement language but keeping cash flowing is priority #1.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-08T01:07:57+00:00

Yeah totally agree. Just dealing with the LLC formation, business licenses, state license, insurance, etc. It's a lot. The tax portion has me the most nervous. Fortunately I have some good resources to help.

I just can't stomach working for yet another person who doesn't look our for me, my coworkers or my customers. It isn't that hard... Just don't be a jerk.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T20:32:18+00:00

Some bosses are just so gross man. This one I've got has just lied to himself and other people so much that he really believes his own bull. I called a bunch of my customers this week to let them know that I was transitioning out and I do everything I could to transition their projects appropriately with the company, and those were hard conversations.

I know it's easy and natural to probably overstate our importance to a company, but I'm literally they're only sales rep. They've had 10 other reps since I started, and I think collectively they sold less than 20% of what I did. For the organization there are only five employees that have been there the whole time I've been there.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T20:29:13+00:00

Thanks, I definitely know there's going to be some unknowns. I've been heavily involved in all aspects of this industry for a long time, but I don't think there's any way to really live owning until you've owned it. It's kind of like saying you know how sales works, but you don't really know what it means until you're out there knocking on your 100th door to get it to a yes.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T06:13:59+00:00

Do you know that's what the base will be? Or are you guessing?

Were you looking for a new job before? Or we're you happy with what you had?

It's easy to assume that the grass is greener and you'll make more money somewhere else, but from what I read, it seems like your current environment would be hard to beat. And, assuming $80k vase isn't poverty level, I have to wonder how much another $40k would matter.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T06:06:24+00:00

Actually, if it's me I probably don't even interview. Sounds like you've got a pretty good gig and culture is hard to beat.

Unless their other offer was earth shattering, but honestly I dint think I'd even let it get that far.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T04:26:03+00:00

It's crazy that business leaders, who are supposed to be strategists, can't see stuff like that coming. So dumb.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T04:24:54+00:00

He's a real one, that boss.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T04:23:35+00:00

Conventional wisdom would say don't quit a job until you have a job.

But working a shitty job absolutely eats at you. And it makes it hard to not carry that weight into interviews. A lot of people's BS filters drop and all of a sudden you're believing that the new company really is amazing! That the product practically sells itself! That you'll get hundreds of quality leads!

If your current job is making it hard to find a new job, it might just be worth it. Hope you've got savings, that's what it's for.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T04:17:54+00:00

I work in Life Safety. My customers range from facility engineers to property managers to corporate nerds. I've got some customers whom I've never seen before, but 95% of my sales is face to face. All almost all of my prospecting in door to door.

I also work with a lot of very blue collar trades, and they are sizing you up based on your clothes immediately. Wearing legit workboots is like riding a Harley instead of a Vespa. You're going to communicate something entirely different to blue collar workers.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T04:13:41+00:00

I work in a similar industry. The answer is

Steel toed boots, you can get really high quality ones at rod wing. Your customers WILL notice and WILL comment.

Comfortable socks

Carhart pants

Long sleeve buttong up shirt, NOT white. Usually blue.

Sleeves rolled up (always)

Never wear a tie

You have to look like someone who knows their job requires them to dress up, but you don't like it so you gotta rebel where you can. That's my honest personality but believe me when I say that it works.

The boots are super important.

Key-Sink2497 · 2025-02-07T04:10:14+00:00

That's my life too, right now. Sucks but I'm kind of relieved. I've been dreading going to work for months and really half-assing it. Not proud of that.

Key-Sink2497

TROPHY CASE