Matt Simon, CFP®’s Post

Early in your career, no matter what your title is, you will most likely be asked to work on many different assignments. This is especially common for small companies and start ups. Everyday will feel different. Some of the projects will be interesting and some will be annoying but it’ll feel good to be versatile. You’ll feel like you are incredibly important to a company. This might be the case but its easy to get trapped here. If you want to move up in your career, you need to forget about being the person who can do it all. Instead, focus on being the best at 1, maybe 2 things that will create the biggest impact. This is how you get promoted. This is how you land bigger, higher paying jobs. While companies like having the do-it-all types, they need the people with strong expertise. When I started my career I was proud to be the “Jake of all trades.” I was a hard worker and I could get things done. I did this role at multiple companies. While I enjoyed it, I eventually realized I would have to pick something and become the best at it. I chose sales. Even though I knew that there were other areas of the business I could improve, I could make the biggest impact as the top salesperson. Now I’m a sales leader and I’m still good at lots of things but I’m the best at building and empowering sales teams.

Choosing a career in sales requires a lot of commitment. Many hesitate, given the challenging nature of the job. When deciding to enter this industry, it's common to find that family and friends may not understand the complexity of sales or its demands. However, detachment from external opinions can be beneficial. It prepares one for the challenges ahead without bias. Six years into the industry, I find myself stronger and grateful for the experience. It’s a testament to the personal and professional growth that such a demanding role can foster. a big challenge with a big impact. How was your start in sales?

🌟 Seize Every Opportunity 🌟 Hello everyone! Wanted to start off the year with a spark of motivation. As sales professionals, our role is not just about selling a product or service; but more about selling a vision, a solution, and a better future for our clients. Our role involves making meaningful connections and solving problems, not just closing deals. So this year: - Let’s embrace rejections to fuel our determination to succeed - ⁠Be persistent with your efforts to keep providing value - ⁠Prioritise client relationships to build trust and understanding - ⁠Recognise teamwork and celebrate each others wins - ⁠Last but not the least don’t underestimate the power of working with a positive mindset! Remember, you have the power to make a difference in people's lives. Your passion and commitment to excellence will set you apart. So let's go out there and give our best this year! #SalesMotivation #SalesSuccess #KeepHustling #salesgoals

In the dynamic world of sales careers, success doesn’t just happen by chance. It’s a result of honed skills, relentless effort, and a deep understanding of the art of persuasion. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to elevate your career to the next level, mastering these essential skills is paramount. Let’s delve into the core competencies that can propel you towards a thriving career in sales. https://bit.ly/3vsW4AC

One of my goals was to be a VP Sales by 30. I ended being 27 when I was a 1st time VP. I had a point to prove. I left school early, didn't get degree. Wanted to prove my everyone wrong, show without a degree you can be successful. But here's the thing it wasn't' what I expected. I thought that is what success looked like. I chased the title, followed what I thought career progression looked like. But the reality is I enjoyed selling and suddenly I wasn't directly selling. I was also earning less money. My learnings looking back are that I would have been better suited too: 1. Staying as a successful IC for longer. or 2. Starting a business sooner. Luckily I LOVE what I do now and look forward to sharing more learnings from this journey! What would you do differently in your career if you had the time again?

Embarking on a sales career is a journey that unfolds over time, with each step paving the way to new heights. It's not a role typically handed to anyone right out of college; instead, it's a climb marked by dedication, learning, and experience. And I’ve noticed that just as you hit your stride and reach the pinnacle of your sales journey, life of course has been weaving its own story. The unique challenge arises when this time of your career coincides with the beautiful chaos of starting a family! I’m so interested to hear your reflections on this journey. How did you navigate these simultaneous peaks? What insights can you offer to fellow sales professionals on balancing career milestones with the joys of motherhood? #salesmom #careerandfamilybalance #workingmom #careerdriven

I saw "as a Sales Manager" and this is what I feel Fostering optimism within the team was essential for maintaining motivation, resilience, and a positive mindset, particularly in challenging times. Consistently displaying a positive attitude, especially during setbacks or difficult periods, was crucial. By framing challenges as opportunities for growth, I demonstrated to my team that optimism wasn't about ignoring difficulties but about believing in our ability to overcome them. I made it a point to celebrate not only the major victories but also the small wins. Recognizing achievements such as closing a small deal, securing a meeting with a potential client, or receiving positive feedback helped keep the team motivated and optimistic about their progress. I ensured that communication within the team was always constructive and supportive. Whether it was feedback, goal-setting, or daily check-ins, I focused on positive reinforcement, highlighting what was going well and how we could build on it. By fostering optimism, I aimed to create a sales team that was not only driven and resilient but also genuinely believed in their ability to succeed. This positive energy not only enhanced performance but also created an environment where people were excited to work and grow.

As this year's coming to a close and we're finishing out the month strong, we want to introduce one of our amazing sales leaders, Taylor Bennett! Taylor started with NAVEX as an individual contributor 4 years ago and since then has taken his career path to the leadership team. He now oversees the (Hunter East) SMB team, supporting their goals, coaching, mentoring and being an overall great human! 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕛𝕠𝕓 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕧𝕖 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕕? The first job I ever had was a cashier at Panera Bread when I was 16 (a sophomore in High School). My parents were both very adamant that I learn the value of a dollar, by doing the work on my own. The free food on occasion was a plus, but I learned a lot of really valuable lessons at that age around work ethic and responsibility.   𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕕𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪 𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕥 ℕ𝔸𝕍𝔼𝕏? Getting satisfaction from helping Account Executives reach their full potential and meeting their own goals set themselves along the way. The one thing I love most about working at NAVEX is definitely the PEOPLE and CULTURE. This is a first-class company and team I get to be a part of day in, and day out.   𝕋𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕦𝕤 𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕣 𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕙/𝕕𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕡𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕧𝕖 𝕛𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝔸𝕍𝔼𝕏 𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕞. Getting the opportunity to step into a leadership role. Ever since getting into software sales, I’ve wanted to gain enough experience so that I could take on leadership. NAVEX not only gave me that opportunity but also invested the time in me beforehand to help prepare me as best as possible. The opportunity to move up internally at NAVEX is second to none, so if you’re looking for growth potential, this is the place to be!   𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕘𝕠 𝕥𝕠 𝕂𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕠𝕜𝕖? I can get with a good duet of Picture, by Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow   𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥’𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕞𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕠 𝕔𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗? Any type of Mexican food. I LOVE Fajitas

In my career, I've been able to be at 400% of quota, and worked in situations where I've struggled to hit 50%. I've worked in environments where I was excited to go to work every day, and I've worked in environments where I've dreaded it and people would regularly be hospitalized due to stress-induced health issues. I've worked in environments where everybody knew what they needed to do to help the team succeed, and I've worked in an environment where my job duties were described to me very differently than they were described to everybody else, and it created tension and hostility. Culture can make an average sales person exceptional, or it can make an exceptional sales professional below average. If your team is struggling to meet quota, let's chat and come up with a game plan on how to pump those numbers up!

I updated my title yesterday to a Lead Sales Consultant vs Director of Rev Ops and got multiple messages asking (or stating) if this was a downgrade in my role/career. This highlights some of the issues I have with job titles. It's all about being the right person, in the right seat, at the right time. Our team has changed, the company priorities shifted, and my responsibilities have evolved. Here's that story: 4 months ago (when the role change actually happened), I went from a mostly one-person sales team helping oversee our sales revenue, with help from our awesome coaches and trainers, to a 3 person team with a sales leader (Becca Manganello) and another sales consultant (Tom DiScipio) by my side. The company needed more of the team focused directly on sales, and I jumped at that opportunity. I wanted to build up the pipeline, work directly with the marketing team to generate better leads and align with them, and be as hands-on as possible to help hit our revenue and growth goals. My strengths lie much more in the frontline sales seat than they do in Revenue Operations right now. I love the conversations and guidance I get to provide each and every day for teams, so this seat felt right. It'll be awesome one day to lead the team and oversee all of that but now isn't that day. So... I say all that to show why that title change happened. I didn't have a downgrade or lose my position. I'm taking on the job that needs to be done, regardless of job title. 👋 #JobTitle #NewRole #CareerJourney