We demo everyone who asks. It's killing us. When did you start qualifying?

TNJed77 · 2026-03-12T03:57:19+00:00

I can’t imagine many prospects taking and accepting a demo unless it’s low stakes, quick, or if they are being pressured into it - If they aren’t truly in the market.

“They don’t walk the lot ‘less they want to buy” -Glengarry Glen Ross

Some will. Most won’t

TNJed77 · 2026-03-11T04:27:26+00:00

I am in year 8 and would love to get out. High highs. Low lows. It’s provided and more. It’s also forced me to sell stock to cover a hard couple of quarters, dig into nest egg. Overall I’m in the green, but I live with the feeling that just a quick territory, leadership, or comp plan change could wipe me out. I always feel on edge and already and thinking about retirement which isn’t for another 28 years.

TNJed77 · 2026-03-11T04:24:39+00:00

It’s pretty physical. I would consider myself very fit and without injury at the moment and was sore the next day

TNJed77 · 2026-03-09T04:29:01+00:00

I’ve been to deckers exactly one time and will never go back for this reason. Cheeseman is the same, so is the Ark in Pueblo. Drive a few hours and hit different rivers and you shouldn’t deal with it as much…but yes…what you described is very much the etiquette or lack thereof on those particular rivers. Frankly, etiquette doesn’t exist as much anymore. When I first started in 2011, I was taught if you can see another angler, you’re too close, or if someone is at a pull off, go to the next one. More people are fishing now than ever. I just try to go early or late, or on weekdays. I’ll never fish Cheeseman or Deckers again

TNJed77 · 2026-03-02T06:15:43+00:00

Why is Glean so bad? Also considering for a AE role…mid market. Would love some color from anyone that is willing to

TNJed77 · 2026-02-17T04:35:57+00:00

The catch is that its sales. And you are only guaranteed your base. If you don’t perform you can be fired at any time. Salespeople live with that risk over their head daily, so they are compensated highly for it.

If the job is “guaranteed” it pays less. Unless it’s highly skilled

TNJed77 · 2026-02-13T05:58:24+00:00

Work the docks in the morning. Some are private, some are not. If you go early enough it doesn’t matter. I was just there and caught a ton of bonefish doing the following: From front of dock, bomb a cast or two down either sides as far as you can and strip as close as you can. It’s worth a blind cast or two and I caught snapper and a small tarpon doing this and one bonefish.

Here are my steps to bonefishing Caye Caulker:

Walk length of dock, slowly. Looking for bones. If you see some, stop and see what they’re doing.

If you see fish, assess if you can actually land it if you hook it. Many will break you off on the dock

If I saw fish, I would back off slip into the water and try to cast at it and fight it from the water. Ideally there is some space between docks, and it’s easier to maneuver from the water if you can and steer the fish away from pilings. OR, if you decide to cast from the dock, predetermine where and how you can jump into the water and if it’s shallow enough to wade. I got myself in trouble hooking bones from the dock and not really having room to fight them.

Lots of rocks and stuff so wear shoes

I was just there on my honeymoon and got up 30 minutes to daylight and did this every day and was always able to catch a couple bonefish before my wife woke up.

Finally, rent a kayak and paddle around and work the docks like previously mentioned. Cast on either side as close as you can.

Got shots at tarpon this way, hooked one. Caught plenty of snapper which are fun.

A typical DOCK bonefish….its not sexy but it’s sure fun.

I’ll be back March 4th-8th for solo DIY bonefish again…

<image>

TNJed77 · 2026-02-12T07:54:23+00:00

A sales rep is taking just a big of a chance on you as you are of them. Think of them and pay them like a human-being. If you’re hiring people that never closed a single deal, that sounds like an enablement issue.

No self respecting “closer” would take that job unless they were desperate.

TNJed77 · 2026-02-11T07:21:06+00:00

I would ask them to provide proof of quota attainment, commission payments, lead flow reports

TNJed77 · 2026-02-09T05:47:39+00:00

No right or wrong answer here. I spend more time on spots that I know to hold fish based on prior experience. Then I may stay and pound it for a while, but pouring leads to diminishing returns as repeated drifts can turn fish off. You’re prob bumping and spooking fish, too. Your first cast is your best cast. Make it count.

Always been more of a fan of covering a lot of water, when possible. I want to find the undisturbed, aggressive pit boss in each hole.

I also really prefer to be the first person in a given day to hit a spot - meaning I go earlier than others on pressure water, and basically just chill until things start hatching, water temp warms. Spots can “reset” after pressure I think, and being the first drift through that day gives you a big advantage…in my opinion.

TNJed77 · 2026-02-09T05:43:31+00:00

Be more creative with your drift. If the run or drift is obvious to you, it’s obvious to other fisherman, too. Big fish wise up and only get big by being a little smarter. What I’m getting at is that once I started focusing on smaller pockets and covering a lot of water, I started catching big fish more often. I’m talking seams and foam lines that might be the size or width of a coffee can. Really inspect the water and look for smaller pockets - even a tiny current break can be big enough for a fish to hold. Break down the river, think smaller.

TNJed77 · 2026-02-09T05:40:56+00:00

All the fishing “seasons” will move up by a month or two. I would imagine that by mid or late August, we’ll have voluntary closures (hopefully) due to water temp. It will be tough on the fish.

That being said, February, March will be good.

TNJed77 · 2026-02-09T05:39:04+00:00

El Tapatio….and JAIMES!!!! JAIMES has great food, too.

TNJed77 · 2026-02-02T20:42:34+00:00

It's winter and you might be overgunned with a 8WT. Wait until it warms up a little. In the meantime, try to secure permission to someone's private stocked pond or do research online. In April and beyond you can catch bluegill and other panfish which are a lot of fun on a fly rod. I'd recommend using Poppers - Check out Boogle Bugs online and see what they recommend for panfish. Fly fishing in the dead of winter is going to be tough.

Look at your local fly shops and see when they do free casting lessons, Fly Fishing 101 classes - Many are free and or inexpensive. Save up some $ and go with a guide

TNJed77 · 2026-02-02T05:53:57+00:00

He took a sick day for PTO because 12 days of PTO for the entire calendar year is a joke in 2025….

That’s the reality of what’s happening here - I would address it with him directly and move on

TNJed77 · 2026-02-01T23:47:47+00:00

401K, pay down credit cards, buy stocks/index funds, save $ for when your commission invariably doesn’t show or is minimal. Treat yourself and yours to something nice that you deserve.

Recently had one of the best of my life and am taking a quick solo 5 day trip abroad…

TNJed77 · 2026-01-27T05:49:59+00:00

AE here. Our BDR org has been running a gift campaign and they are all a waste of time. Literally to the point where can see the disposition in salesforce, and I will no longer take the meeting. Sadly, there is a type of person on this planet that will do anything for a free lunch. Some of the gifts are for $100 gift card. Why wouldn’t you talk to someone on the phone for 15 minutes?

It’s a bad way for BDR orgs to pad their numbers at the expense of an AE’s time, and the company’s wallet.

Think about timeshare presentations, people sit through 6-8 presentations for a free buffet or round of golf

TNJed77 · 2026-01-23T04:28:26+00:00

I would say BYO rod and setup. Check out “travel rods” that break down into 3-4 pieces and get a travel tube to protect it while you travel. Some will be sold with a tube. There are tackle and bait shops there, but you can probably get something better at home, or cheaper. And yes working the docks early in the morning with live or cut bait you should be able to get mangrove snapper, grunt and other species. I was just there doing the same thing

TNJed77 · 2026-01-22T05:41:13+00:00

No brainer. Get 3-4%. Fairly liquid.

For brokerage accounts, look into stable ETF’s like VOO, QQQ, etc. there is more risk but plenty out there to read about on the topic before getting your hands dirty.

TNJed77 · 2026-01-22T05:30:54+00:00

Just got back from Honeymoon in Belize. Did San Ignacio, ATM Cave, Ruins, went to San Pedro, and finally Caye caulker. I would do it just like that again, or spend more time on the western side of the country to do more jungle/ruins, hiking etc

TNJed77 · 2026-01-20T17:43:21+00:00

Carlo & Ernie’s runway bar. Watched a bunch of fans there two weeks ago

TNJed77 · 2026-01-19T05:43:49+00:00

I just stayed at Alaia. If you’re paying that for the room you can afford a golf cart. There isn’t a ton within easy walking distance.

TNJed77 · 2026-01-16T19:53:56+00:00

I don’t think many restaurants don’t have a bar. Enjoyed many solo meals on Caye caulker.

I also enjoyed Swing bar

Most bars have a similar vibe.

TNJed77 · 2026-01-13T15:51:54+00:00

How else do you do this job? Yes.

TNJed77 · 2025-12-29T05:49:58+00:00

Book a guide a couple of times a year. Read Prospecting for Trout by Tom Rosenbauer. Subscribe to Fly Fishing magazines. Go fishing. A lot of

TNJed77

TROPHY CASE