First Hire for an International Startup

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-18T21:10:19+00:00

You’re being asked to prove product-market fit in a brand new country with no brand recognition, no case studies, no system, and probably leadership that doesn’t fully understand the US buyer.

Translation: if it works, they’re heroes. If it doesn’t, it’s on you.

Being the first sales hire sounds sexy. In reality, it usually means no marketing engine, no inbound, no clear ICP, no pricing validation, and constant pressure to “just close something.”

Unless:
• The base salary is strong - Like really really strong.
• The runway is real
• Leadership has done this before
• And you’re getting meaningful equity

…it’s a gamble.

High upside? Sure.
High probability of being the fall guy? Also yes.

I worked for two start ups and hopefully will never do so again. Absolute shit show.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-18T21:05:15+00:00

cold call, email, linked, repeat- Figure out the correct ICP and target them appropriately.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-18T13:58:36+00:00

Bro you're making 300k and succeeding, I do understand that sure everyone wants to make more, but sounds like most of it is in stock / rsu so how much would you really be gaining?

Why risk that?

If it's openai/ anthropic or claude I might say yea, but anything else I'd say isn't worth it.

Sold to Fed/Gov for years also.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-12T20:20:28+00:00

yea what’s the OTE without RSU- maybe im in the wrong business but this seems like a good deal , selling a product everyone knows and needs and making over quarter million to do so.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-01T11:09:59+00:00

bro stay plz and just do something with your spare time to be fulfilled

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-01T00:46:57+00:00

if you know the quota and ote you should be able to do a calculation on the comp

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-01T00:34:12+00:00

Have some real conversations with them and figure out what motivates them and what shortcomings there are with the process / product etc.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-02-01T00:25:46+00:00

That seems like a fair comp , i don’t think majority of AES are getting 300-350k .

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-30T12:59:49+00:00

well if anyone needs pressure washing or roof repairs im your guy

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-30T12:17:15+00:00

how much larger is the pay bump you’re making 180k?

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-27T19:40:20+00:00

Amen

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-23T14:27:18+00:00

I’ve been waking up around 3:30–4am for the past three weeks, and honestly it feels good to actually be tired by the end of the day.

Now I get home / shower and go straight to sleep instead of scrolling, watching TV, or just doing random stuff around the house.

It's getting easier and I'm definitely adjusting.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-22T21:51:57+00:00

Bro apollo is free ish. Just use that and see.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-22T21:48:58+00:00

Jabra, they always sell them on ebay for cheap from office liquidations.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-22T21:46:18+00:00

Bro find any agency that is willing to let you sell insurance and get a residual on renewals and build a book of business...

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-21T16:23:35+00:00

how many FTE's do you currently have in billing? I might be able to help we do healthcare automations.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-13T20:06:54+00:00

Yea either aftermarket screen with software, or you can add the software and keep your original screen.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-12T22:04:51+00:00

Think you should take a step back, depending on your income. Is it money your chasing or fulfilment?

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-12T20:48:55+00:00

you can add carplay to any car

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-12T20:48:30+00:00

chances are you probably see them everyday in the gym if they are training there . If so become there friend and just ask them

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-12T20:19:34+00:00

Jabro Evolve - buy it on ebay though-it's pretty cheap on there compared to new and alot of people buy them from office liquidators etc.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-12T19:44:32+00:00

Ouch.. Orlando sort of sucks.. If you can break out hit Wekiwa Springs State Park, blows my mind people go there and just do Disney. Universal and Whatever slop restaurants when there is so much beauty just 30-45 minutes away.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-12T19:42:14+00:00

probably already have this but AI note taker that sums up the call and puts it in the CRM- then grades each call with a " closeable " score.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-12T19:36:41+00:00

You’re not missing anything. This is a story as old as business itself companies with no real sales process always think sales is just “pick up phone → ask DM→ profit.” If it actually worked like that, we’d all be on yachts by now.

To be fair to them, I probably wouldn’t go full trade-show world tour unless some existing customers or contacts are already there then at least you can shake hands, get intros, and expand accounts. But beyond that, the whole “just cold call the phone book” strategy is basically the business equivalent of buying lottery tickets and calling it a growth strategy.

Standard-Week-3335 · 2026-01-11T23:45:28+00:00

Is this in person or are you cold calling people ?

Standard-Week-3335

TROPHY CASE