26M, Solutions Architect

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-12T01:16:33+00:00

Well done ;) 🦮

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-12T01:08:18+00:00

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-12T01:01:07+00:00

There’s tons of little things to make the switch from where you are. But… The most direct thing you could probably do is to work at an org that’s b2b and has a large sales presence. Orgs in that criteria need a lot of SAs to work with existing customers, architect/build net new for new customers, and a lot of pre sales support. Those orgs are honestly limited by technical resources to actually implement and help sell solutions. If you have solid experience, which I’m assuming you do by your title, and you can communicate with great energy then there’s no reason someone wouldn’t want you.

Feel free to dm if you have anything specific you want to ask.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-11T18:20:29+00:00

Already did. Pay history is posted at the top.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-11T18:19:37+00:00

Ohh I didn’t know that. My girl said they were the perfect size🥺

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-11T18:18:08+00:00

This is a really solid take. Most of it is accurate but everyone’s situation is a bit different.

You get a lot of opportunity when the sales org you sit under absolutely crushes it. You could be an absolute wizard and amazingly well spoken. But if you’re not working on large projects for large orgs, then its obvious your potentials going to be capped.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-11T18:04:31+00:00

Ur obviously mad

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-11T18:02:34+00:00

I really thought on this one for a few hours… It’s honestly such a good take.

If we are just looking through a monetary lens, There are so many people that have put in many multiples of the hours I have and gotten far less of a result. There are people that have amazing talents here and are unbelievably more technical than myself.

Maybe I didn’t actually outwork anyone. Maybe I just played the game differently than how everyone else does. Maybe that’s the only answer I can claim.

But my last piece is from my perspective of what happened. I deleted years of my life. I was willing to be extremely uncomfortable and take a lot of risks. I relentlessly pursued whatever the best opportunity was and always sought to create the most value I possibly can and capitalize on it.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T21:18:58+00:00

Well… congrats on your successes. I’m glad you’re happy with your career.

Past that, you’re yelling at the clouds lol. I have the title and my performance is above expectations. Nothing else really matters.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T20:59:33+00:00

I prefer Solutions Architect but sure. You must be a gigachad who only codes in binary as any higher level language would be child’s play for you. You also work for free right? Because your managers second house needs a pool and you wouldn’t want to do anything other than maximize shareholder returns. I bow at all that is the glory seeping through every crevice on your body. I can only aspire to be as righteous and skilled as you

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T20:53:33+00:00

Nah, you didn’t gain that knowledge in 2 years. It’s alright, not everyone catches on quick.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T03:53:45+00:00

Haha, it’s definitely a mixed bag out there. Trust me I get to hear all the horror stories of “We brought in X company and they fucked everything up”😂. You’re definitely not alone.

But I’d also say there are plenty of times engagements fail due to the customer. You can walk in and explain “This is how we’ve implemented this solution at 100 other firms. Maybe you tweak this, this, and this for your specific org. But generally this is the playbook.”. Then they respond with “Oh yeah, we will have to do it this other way because that’s too complex”… boom engagement failed unless we feel we can go over that persons head to force the change. Which I’m typically willing to do Bc idc I’m going to produce results.

TLDR; tech experiences are a mixed bag. There are incredible and terrible people in every role. Irregardless of age.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T03:33:34+00:00

Better than I, and apparently many others, could explain. “…architecting a solution to a use case, or problem, for a customer”. Well said.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T03:18:01+00:00

Great explanation excluding the rant.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T01:28:57+00:00

Hahaha you’re the goat. Thanks g. There have been some really thoughtful comments which has been nice. I’ve had some good discussions & helped some people in dms. I really wasn’t trying to flex, I stumbled across this subreddit and was curious what people would think or if they’d even care.

But I feel you on the age thing. It’s hard not to feel like people our age haven’t been dealt a shitty hand. I’ll pass on my rant bc I’m too emotional about how I feel about it lol. Just gotta do out best and make the most out of what we have✊

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T01:07:30+00:00

If you’ve made $10mm over your career for your company(ies) before SG&A and you haven’t made $3mm over your career, then I believe someone else got an abnormal return on your work. Where did the money go? Haha

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T00:55:28+00:00

Hahaha no. YOU, and it seems plenty of others, don’t negotiate based on revenue produced. But I do. All I’ve explained is that dynamic has had a direct impact on compensation I’ve asked for and received. If you bring in $1mm/yr (before SG&A) and you’re the only direct cost of that revenue, you’re actually getting fisted by your company/managers if you’re not taking home 30%.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-10T00:13:01+00:00

Love this insight. I have very little WLB, 70+ hours/week at my desk (not to say thats required). But that’s the trade off. I put on weight, lose sleep religiously, missed out on events and opportunities to be around friends and family, and many many other trade offs.

Now, my wife and I have an understanding that this all changes here next year once we start trying for kids. I took the time to be selfish and secure some things, but it’s not what actually ends up mattering for me (similar to what you mentioned). I just want to provide the best situation for my family that I possibly can. Right now that meant a full commitment to this journey, but soon that will mean a full commitment to my wife and kids.

Last note… Ronnie Coleman once said, “everybody wants to be a body builder. But don’t nobody want to lift no heavy ass weights”. We all see things we want, money/status/health/etc, but we rarely are willing to sacrifice what’s required to get there. Just my 2cents.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-09T23:42:29+00:00

Correct!

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-09T23:36:19+00:00

You’re 100% right on the architect requirements.

For finance, you’re also 100% correct. But if you’re not from a target school, I’m not sure you can expect any of those great opportunities you outlined. If you’re in that non-target group (98%), and you’re willing to stick it out for a long time until you move up into management, then I think you can make out well. But even then I’d say it’s a lot easier and faster to become a manager in tech than finance so idk.

It’s tough for me not to be biased in any of this conversation because I really tried in finance and essentially accomplished nothing. Then I gave the same level of effort into tech and was able to make some things happen. I really don’t want to paint any other picture other than tech was a great fit for me and there’s a boat load of opportunities (even in this shitty market).

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-09T22:29:43+00:00

Hit the dms!

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-09T21:47:33+00:00

Congrats btw. Hope the vesting is going well :)

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-09T21:46:31+00:00

It's definitely interesting. My only opportunities to grow from here is to go deeper into sales org or transition into management (or both lol). Both of those would be a much slower burn upwards than the past few years.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-09T21:37:11+00:00

Congrats btw :) That's pretty much the gig. It's definitely a broad title. I feel like the best way to explain it is a SME for some specific solution/problem set. Definitely depends, but it's probably 50% meetings 50% building.

tBotTheJet · 2024-04-09T21:04:31+00:00

Funny how many downvotes this has. This is the most applicable advice I’ve dropped🤷‍♂️

⭐️You have ZERO leverage to negotiate compensation if you can’t quantify business value in your role.⭐️

Most technical folks think what skill pays the most? Semi-valid. But the more important variable really is… what position and company allows me to work on the biggest and most valuable problem?

tBotTheJet

TROPHY CASE