Rachel Mae💃🏻’s Post

After years of experience working in different industries, and mainly being a sales rep and always longing for something more, I can say with confidence that you can never settle for less. Having a career is always about moving forward to the next big step. whether that’s starting over in a different field, getting promoted to the next position, or starting your own business, you need to do what’s going to make you happy so that you never have to work another day in your life. These past years things kept happening at the places I would work that would force me to find another job. Whether it was layoffs or the industry slowing down to the point where I couldn’t pay my bills, you have to keep moving forward to find something better. Even if that means going back to an industry that you were a part of in the past, you have to do what’s right for yourself. I was afraid my résumé would look bad in front of a lot of people because of the short amount of time I was spending at some of these jobs. But I didn’t let that stop me. I know what my skillset is and I know what I’m worth. I let that mindset drive me to where I am today. Now I can say I have a dream position working in an industry that is exciting to me. Not only that, the company I work with is owned by a really good friend of mine and we use our services to help us with remodeling the homes that we buy to fix and flip as partners. Managing those types of projects are so fun and it’s really cool to see how you can take something and turn it around and make it look like it’s 100 times better. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. Moral of the story is everything will happen in it’s time and place. Sometimes you have to go through these challenges to get the experience you need to excel in the position you’re going to make your long-term career so you can become successful. Never settle for less!

5 years ago, I nearly walked out of my first sales job. It was the most mentally taxing work I’d ever done, and I was ready to quit. Ever been there? With my resignation in hand, I decided to make a quick phone call to a trusted friend. Thoughts were flooding my mind…was quitting really the answer? She gave me perspective that still stays with me to this day: “Mary Beth, the hard isn’t something to run from. The hard is what makes you great.” I hung up the phone, shed some tears, and decided to give it another shot. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had the wrong mindset all along. I kept thinking that sales was “hard.” But you know what’s hard? • Mediocrity • A capped salary • Feeling out of control • Giving up on your dreams • Living paycheck to paycheck • Not operating out of abundance Here’s best advice to you fellow sales comrades: Unlearn “hard.” Untrain your mind. Now go win the day. 💪🏻 P.S. Check out my “Featured” section for Free Resources on how to master your Mental Game 😎 #sales #personaldevelopment #business #success

90 days ago today, I was fired. Let's back up a bit though. I grew up in a lower-middle class, blue-collar family where work ethic was next to godliness. I've been employed since I was 12. Somehow my parents had convinced a landscaper at our church to bring me on and let me sling a weedeater through the summer. ☀ This was 1998, and I made a smashing $5/hr. The real cheddar started flowing when I got a raise to $5.25 🤑 My next few jobs were as follows: • Floor Scrubber at 13 • Cart pusher and bagger at 14 (Remember, Winn-Dixie?) 🛒 • Cashier at 16 • Waiter at 18 🥗 • Then came nearly a decade with one of the strongest brands in the country, Chick-fil-A Restaurants 🐔 • Pastor, recruiter then came sales and the realization I've ALWAYS been selling in one form or another. SaaS sales was never in plans. I wanted to pastor again, help people. But dang, yall. You can make some $$$ in sales, so I stuck around. Finally landed the DREAM job. "It's harder to get hired here than to get into Harvard University" That line was etched into my mind. I felt like I had landed a job w/ tenure. "You'll never need to look for a job again" I was told. I had made it. 11 months later, HR is suddenly hopping on a call unexpectedly. Manager reading from a script. Within minutes it was gone. No PIP for me. 86% attainment. Just like that.😯 You never think it'll happen to you, especially when you've spent your life dedicated to honing your own work ethic. It's true, I wasn't crushing it, but I had given it all I had. 'Why did they let you go?'. People asked. Does it matter? Was what eventually started bubbling out of me. It was psychologically, a trip. I'm grateful I was in a healthier place, mentally than I had ever been. If this happened years ago, it would've crushed me. But at 90 days, I'm celebrating. Why? It didn't crush me. It's made me. In fact, it was the best thing that could've happened to me. Can I let you in on a secret? I just filed my taxes. In 2023 I made more money than I ever dreamed I'd make. I was also miserable. Money ≠ Joy. I knew this already - theoretically. I learned it practically in 2023. It's true. Being let go forced me into a uncomfortable place that honestly, with 4 kids, I would've never jumped into on my own. I'm now a #solopreneur and this journey has brought more clarity than any other professional shift I've had. I've had an incredible career, and am looking at decades more ahead of me. But right now - at 90 days? I'm broke and happy, y'all. I'm content. I'm at peace.❤️ And that's worth a hell of a lot more than a fat paycheck. I also, oddly feel more in control of my future and destiny than ever before. I'm not peddling someone else's product, on someone else's time under someone else's microscope. That unexpected event hit you like a ton of bricks this year, may be the very thing to make you into the thing you've always dreamed of.

I got laid off. But it was the best thing that ever happened to me. In 2014, after about 8 months into my first full-time sales role, the company was sold and they decided to close the Raleigh office. 🥊 It was the first time I experienced the "gut punch" that comes with being told you are no longer needed. I was out of a job and I felt like a failure. But I was determined to use it as a stepping stone to something better. 🤯 I never could have imagined what would happen next. After some interviews with various companies through my network, it was a random LinkedIn response from a college friend, JT Rimbey, whom I was actually reaching out to about interviewing for a company he worked at prior. ☕ Instead, it turned into a coffee. That coffee was an informal interview at the company where he was the VP of Sales. That informal interview turned into several interviews the next day with the Founders and CEO. 🏠 4 days later I had a job offer. I had found a new home. It was a pivotal moment in my career. 💡 I spent 4 years at inMotionNow (now Lytho) <> The Founders, Rob Munz & Mary Beth Munz became mentors <> JT taught me more about sales than I could ever repay him for <> I built lifelong friendships with people like Chris David Garcia <> I learned the importance of Teamwork and Culture <> I gained confidence in myself and my abilities Things always appear bad at the moment. We lost a job. We blew the game. We broke up with someone. Sometimes things are out of our control. Life is happening. But, what is in our control? -> Our attitude -> Our resilience  -> Our perspective -> Our perseverance We have no idea what is going to happen. Most of it is random luck and serendipitous moments. We can be prepared when the luck arrives. We can be ready for the opportunities. But, we must start taking control now. Otherwise, we might be cornered into a decision that doesn’t lead us down the path we ultimately want. just get started, Brian (P.S. - I forgot how far advanced our phone cameras are today. 😅 This picture of Rob and me is from 2015!)

How A CEO Screwed Himself Out Of Multi-Millions👀 I was making my follow up calls to my potential client list today. & As I'm going through the motions, I notice one of the numbers I just dialed is calling me back. So I answered, 📞 Me: Hey Tom, it's Jayce with JGC&R. How are you doing? Tom: Hey Jayce, I'm doing great, hope everything going great for you. Me: It is, I remembered to give you a call today. How was your vacation? Tom: It was great, but now I'm back to work, and I got a problem. Me: A Problem? What happened? You let go of your top producer? Tom: Well I have been here for two years, built a sales team that has done multiple millions a year in that time, and I'm tired of working for my CEO. Me: How come? Tom: Well, I'm just tired of being talked down to, I'm tired of voicing my opinions and no one considering them, I want to be part of something that has a purpose. Like when I used to serve in the Marines. Me: I get it Tom, I hear this happening all the time nowadays when you have a CEO who's cancerous to his own business. Tom: Yeah, since I started here, everyone has left because they couldn't stand how he was running the business. Multiple Directors, Managers, & and more. Me: So, I'm guessing you are looking for a new Job opportunity then? Tom: Yeah, sorry to lay this on you. Me: Don't apologize, let's work together to get you out of there okay? I grew up with Marines and even though I didn't serve treated everyone as my brothers & and sisters. Tom: Sounds good, I'll send you my resume. ☎ Me: Let's roll. I want to say it's shocking, for this to happen to a proven sales manager who has done nothing but scale his sales team to multiple millions. But... It's not. You will lose great talent when you are cancerous to your own business, and I'll be there to help them. Because their nothing more disgusting than being called a CEO just to be called a CEO, while everyone underneath you is treated as dog 💩. Do Better! Now, if anyone right now is in the market for a Sales Manager, who has served our country, and has a proven track record of scaling sales teams to multiple millions everywhere he has gone, let's chat. If you know anyone that hiring, let's chat. #veterans #recruiting #hiringnow

My mom had recently passed away when I got the call. After 15 YEARS AT&T terminated my employment.  I will never forget what my boss told me that day... He said "I hope this doesn't take you by surprise because you know our company plans with headcount. " We had a previous discussion about earnings. They were paying me $250K. I was the last high-earner left. They were hiring new reps at $50K plus bonus. My time was up. My hands were shaking. My thoughts were racing. I felt betrayed... I exceeded quota. I won awards. So I was placed on a fast-track management program. I thought I would be with them for life. I felt lost. I had to rebuild from the ground up. Got hired by a pharmaceutical company. But, sooner than later, that job also took over my life. Most mornings I left before my adopted daughter was awake. And returned when she was asleep. I felt like I had no relationship with her. We didn't spend that much time together. Other people were taking care of her basic needs. While I was working to put food on the table. Sometimes she preferred to be with her nanny instead of me… Finally, I had enough. I took a year to get to know my daughter. I started to volunteer at my son's school. I visited my father who was ill in another state. My entrepreneurial journey began. I used my sales skills to build my own business instead of working for a company that only saw me as a number. It wasn't easy. Some times were stressful. I almost gave up. But I did not. I found a way. I built a multiple six-figure business employing caregivers to help the elderly and sold it after 10 years. Then, I started "The Happy Executive" to help executives become business owners doing what truly makes them happy. Never sacrifice your happiness or time with your family for a job that will replace you at the drop of a dime. Build something that no one can take away from you, do what makes you happy! #sales #introverts #happy

Don’t quit ‼️ Before I started in sales, I had a conversation with Chaim Gluck 🦁 and he warned me that after about three months, many salespeople feel exhausted and a big percentage of them quit their jobs. At first, the excitement and challenge made sense of why sales offered good rewards. Three months in, I was doing great, no burnout, no thoughts of quitting. I truly thought I was different, not like the others. But then, around two weeks ago, (9 months into my sales journey) it hit me hard. I started feeling exhausted, my sales dropped, and I felt like I wasn't succeeding, It was tough 😞 While feeling drained and doubting myself, I had a realization. “It's alright to not be special” Admitting to feeling tired doesn't make me weak; it just makes me human. Even though the journey's tough, and there might be more challenges ahead, I'm learning to accept these tough times as part of the job. Now, I'm not an exception, but I'm growing stronger in the world of sales 🥂 So, the reason I'm sharing this is because I'm determined to keep going. I want to look back and see that sales hasn’t always been easy. These struggles are a part of my journey, shaping me into a stronger person. I want this record to remind me that even in the toughest moments, I persevered and kept pushing forward.

My mom had recently passed away when I got the call. After 15 YEARS AT&T terminated my employment.  I will never forget what my boss told me that day... He said "I hope this doesn't take you by surprise because you know our company plans with headcount. " We had a previous discussion about earnings. They were paying me $250K. I was the last high-earner left. They were hiring new reps at $50K plus bonus. My time was up. My hands were shaking. My thoughts were racing. I felt betrayed... I exceeded quota. I won awards. So I was placed on a fast-track management program. I thought I would be with them for life. I felt lost. I had to rebuild from the ground up. Got hired by a pharmaceutical company. But, sooner than later, that job also took over my life. Most mornings I left before my adopted daughter was awake. And returned when she was asleep. I felt like I had no relationship with her. We didn't spend that much time together. Other people were taking care of her basic needs. While I was working to put food on the table. Sometimes she preferred to be with her nanny instead of me… Finally, I had enough. I took a year to get to know my daughter. I started to volunteer at my son's school. I visited my father who was ill in another state. My entrepreneurial journey began. I used my sales skills to build my own business instead of working for a company that only saw me as a number. It wasn't easy. Some times were stressful. I almost gave up. But I did not. I found a way. I built a multiple six-figure business employing caregivers to help the elderly and sold it after 10 years. Then, I started "The Happy Executive" to help executives become business owners doing what truly makes them happy. Never sacrifice your happiness or time with your family for a job that will replace you at the drop of a dime. Build something that no one can take away from you, do what makes you happy! #sales #introverts #happy

Effective partnerships don't just apply in business partnerships, but in partnerships between employees. I can think of multiple examples from my various employers in which I partnered with another employee and our strengths complemented each other. Normally these were peers, but one time it was a boss. When Morpho and Oberthur merged to form the worldwide company IDEMIA, one of the ramifications in the U.S. was the de facto acquisition of MorphoTrak by MorphoTrust to form IDEMIA North America. Because of MorphoTrust's pre-IDEMIA FOCI status (subsequently assumed by IDEMIA NSS), conversations during the Safran days between the U.S. controlled MorphoTrust and the "foreign" (French-controlled) MorphoTrak were limited. We even competed against each other at times, despite the fact that we were both part of Safran. As a result, when IDEMIA was formed the ex-Trust people didn't really know what the ex-Trak people did, and vice versa. The solution was to integrate the teams as tightly as possible. Therefore I, an ex-Trak person working in the Anaheim Hills, California office, reported to Peter Kirkwood, an ex-Trust person working in the Billerica, Massachusetts office. In addition to our different skill sets (such as Peter's mastery of quantitative analysis), we shared our domain knowledge with each other and cross-trained so that I better understood driver's licenses and enrollment, and he better understood ABIS. This partnership, as well as similar partnerships at Incode, Motorola, and elsewhere, ended up benefiting our employers because effective collaboration often supersedes solo efforts. (Aside: this is true even if your chief collaborators are thousands of miles away, as was the case at IDEMIA with Peter and at Incode with Danuta Debogorska and Chris V.. Yes, remote collaboration IS possible.)

Back in November 2009, I worked 16 hours a day. Not because I was a bad arse. But because I was homeless. I would get to the distribution office at 0700 I had spent the last 8 hours freezing my arse off trying to get some sleep. The first sip of hot coffee tasted bitter-sweet. By 0745 I was in a crew sales car healing to my sales territory. I sold an entertainment service Door 2 Door. The most savage form of sales in my experience. I wasn't scared of rejection though. I was scared of not making sales and heading back to my tent at night. 💡No basic salary 💡Eat what you catch 💡£50 for every sale closed We would normally get back to the office around 8/9pm and do our sales write ups. The office closed at 11pm. So I would make sure I was there until the very last minute. Fast forward 3 months, I had broken every record the company had. Most averaged 1-2 sales per day based on knocking on 100 doors. I averaged 4-5. My MD didn't understand how I did it. He didn't know he had hired a homeless person. 117 days later I was promoted to sales manager and found a room to rent. The Army prepared me to survive in those conditions and for that I'll forever be grateful. Nowadays, I'm still hungry and eat like I'm starving (lots of cheese) but the hunter in me hasn't diminished. My 8 year old son is now my driving force. My favourite holidays are camping holidays, and everytime I go to sleep looking up at the stars along the jurrasic coast in Dorset, I'm reminded that it's not what happens to you but it is about how you react to it. #jobsearch #adversity #growth #careerchange #opentowork #misfits #homeless #sales #mindsetshift #linkedin #candidatessearching #humanity