Sales & Depression - My Story

[@OJCherak]

My company has an extremely long sales cycle. It's not that I'm a bad salesperson... you can't sell someone who has zero need for what you sell. I'm connected too... there's a yellow brick road for all of us salespeople. Keep educating, stay dialing, and you WILL break through. Seriously, keep educating. If you stop success will wander further away. Matt - you're my hero. Finding you helped me carry on with sales.

[@MattMacnamara]

This made my day. Keep going!

[@GeoffreyHanan]

Thank you for your candor here. I think a lot of people need to hear this. This was me at my first SaaS job in 2016 at a fast-growing startup in a tech incubator. Mine was more anxiety than depression, but ultimately it was so bad that I gave my notice and then took the merciful offer from my supervisor to leave that same afternoon. In hindsight, some things I learned: 1.) I didn't resonate with the product and its purpose (ad-tracking software....blech), but I should have stuck in there and learned everything I could to enable myself to move on to a place of my choosing. I didn't face my fears and I had succumb to them instead. 2.) A lot of my anxiety was a physical issue that I had assumed (and was erroneously told by a GP) was mental. I white-knuckled it for 8 more years before changing my gut health and completely dispelling my daily anxiety that I had assumed was related to my job and my mental health. 3.) In tandem with point #2, physical fitness is key and is synergistic with mental health. There's a reason that it's a cliche for tech salespeople to be super into hitting the gym, and while it can be corny or come with the baggage and pratfalls of 'toxic positivity', there is something to be said for making time for even moderate gym time 1-2 days a week to boost/regulate hormone levels and stay healthy physically/mentally *especially* if you stare at computers all day! 4.) This one is the biggest, I think, especially with regard to the depression angle: are you in sales because you're focused on getting? What's your giving like? What do you give? I know we talk about added value in this industry but think about it. There's a reason. It's a win-win. Not only does the customer feel seen and benefit from it, but you do too. Are you mentoring? Are you an aid and asset to your fellow salespeople, or those newer reps underneath you who are about to burn out? If you don't give, if you are inlet-only, you become The Dead Sea. I was 28 when I left my first SaaS opportunity. Now I'm 35 and interviewing for SDR roles and Jr AE roles and it's *hard* to break back in. But I'm getting closer and landing more final interviews--I'm reaching critical mass toward an offer. The work I'm doing in my prospecting and interviewing is reflective of the work I'll be doing in the role, and when I do land that offer, I'll be better than I ever was before, holistically: as a person and as a professional. Thanks for great content like this for those of us who are struggling in the job market. Keep going, y'all!

[@MattMacnamara]

good luck on the interview today!

[@boredguy5805]

lovely comment, good luck with breaking back in!

[@ehumas182]

This is 100% true Matt; I saw a psychologist for first time after COVID and it got my life on track better than I could have ever imagined. Would recommend to anyone

[@MattMacnamara]

best decision ever

[@ChandanSondhi-r6m]

Transparent. Upfront. Genuine. Love this type of content once in a while, Matt! Really looking forward to more of your stuff

[@MattMacnamara]

thanks man, appreciate it!

[@cjfitzpatrick4016]

One thing that I've been doing to help with my mindset is the following: I only check my bonus once per week and refuse to look at the quarterly and yearly rankings. I track my individual inbound calls and keep track of the ones that were genuine sales conversations. And above all, I trust in God's divine providence that He will provide for my "daily bread". This has greatly helped my peace of mind and my overall attitude.

[@emmanuelgage3644]

This is great!

[@MattMacnamara]

great advice!

[@MattMacnamara]

it really is!

[@Selfreliant-y9y]

Thank you matt! I never been into sales. I want to get into sales so i started watching your videos. It shows me reality before entering into sales.

[@MattMacnamara]

thanks for watching the videos!

[@montyklark1043]

Thank you for another great video Matt

[@MattMacnamara]

absolutely!

[@mosesnyper]

Thanks for the honesty, keep making great videos 💪

[@MattMacnamara]

absolutely!

[@Newtosmoothies]

love it! excited!

[@MattMacnamara]

thanks

[@ramcrisostomo2802]

I just got laid off and things are not going my way, I'm near depression but since I came from customer service and it looks saturated and the competition is high. I though of trying sales this time. I saw this video and man I just hope the opportunity would come my way soon. It's getting tough out here but I'm hanging. Thanks Matt.

[@MattMacnamara]

the market is horrible right now...it will get better in some time. Just keep doing the right things to get interviews setup

[@IrishBog]

Great video. I've been a Sales Engineer / Trainer with a company for over 24 years. Now I work closely with a lot of young SDR BDRs - man I could not do that job. Selling to people who've invited you to their offices is tough enough....we have super long sales cycles....think selling a CRM or ERP system.....lots of complicated sales to diverse stakeholders..... but they expect these yound SDRs to be fluent in really tough issues . The worst is that they think tweaking some inconsequential strategy is going to have some amazing effect....or slicing and dicing some pointless matrix of region or vertical is the magic trick.....and in reality it's mostly out of your hands.... it's like surfing....you need the wave to be there in the first place.... you can place yourself in the right area but you can't "make it happen" just be ready when it does.

[@MattMacnamara]

Great share…thank you

[@KeerthanDiddige]

this video hit me differently man 🙏

[@MattMacnamara]

thanks for watching and commenting man!

[@LIlFro-]

Had to quit a sales job selling personal training in tampa. I needed to hear this right now

[@MattMacnamara]

better days are ahead

[@ParrisCrockett]

thank you matt !

[@MattMacnamara]

absolutely Parris!

[@Chebachebarius-e4c]

Worked in sales in past, my health is destroyed completely. Can not fix it yet, it is better now but still unbearable

[@MattMacnamara]

What do you do now?

[@MattMacnamara]

What do you do now?

[@Chebachebarius-e4c]

@@MattMacnamara freelance virtual assistant

[@hyperadapted]

whats the best sales book you can recommend?

[@MattMacnamara]

My next video is on sales books!

[@Hereforthecomments1]

I seriously struggle with the leaderboard thoughts and knowing I have potential to put up big numbers I’ve been in my industry for a long time an seem to struggle like a rookie still. I don’t know why I can’t seem to break thru an am still sitting average. Everyone seems to believe in me but me. What kinda therapy do u recommend just General counseling?

[@MattMacnamara]

general therapy will help. This will help with believing in YOU

[@topsta7316]

Join customer success

[@MattMacnamara]

I'm a sales guy through and through

[@a.town.2053]

everytime i think about the pressure and stress sales brings, I am reminded of my girlfriend who is an entrepreneur who if she does not sell, she literally will not eat. that is real pressure that people in corporate sales do not have...because atleast you have a base salary.

[@MattMacnamara]

good point!

[@SolidJello]

join us in coding

[@SolidJello]

Just finished the video, no longer in sales, but look forward to the high value content.

[@MattMacnamara]

thanks enjoy coding!

[@boredguy5805]

​@@SolidJelloI made the opposite move :p