Help, I’m stuck in a crappy job and I can’t get out!

Written By Jeffrey Gitomer
@GITOMER

KING OF SALES, The author of seventeen best-selling books including The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book of Selling, and The Little Gold Book of Yes! Attitude. His live coaching program, Sales Mastery, is available at gitomer.me.

Why do salespeople leave their jobs?

Why do salespeople STICK with their jobs?

Why are some salespeople “stuck” in their jobs?

I’ll answer these questions-and more.

Consider this email I received:

Jeffrey,

First and foremost, thank you! Your newsletter and books helped me double my revenue at the beginning of the year and have pushed me to double it consistently. But I have a dilemma, and since I haven’t been able to solve it by talking with my wife, God, or the postman-I thought it was time to break down and ask you.

Although I am the number one sales professional at my company, and I am making great money, I am miserable. These may be classic complaints, but I am dissatisfied with the company’s treatment of customers. And I am dissatisfied with the feeling that the sales team is the forgotten stepchild of the company.

I have listened to your advice and have prospected for positions in my area to no avail. At this point, I am ready to walk away with no prospect of work. I just want to cut my losses and focus on getting new work.

So what’s the conflict? My family. I cannot let my family down, and without the ability to bring in the bread, I am afraid I would let them down.

Please help.

To greater success!
Name withheld upon request

Wow. That’s as real world as a letter can get. And it deserves a real-world response.

First, let me say that more people leave their jobs for the following reasons, than any other reasons, including “more money”: (1) they hate their boss, (2) they disrespect their boss, (3) and/or they dislike their company practices.

Lack of recognition and appreciation are way ahead of lack of money.

If you’re in a leadership position or want to become a leader, but things aren’t going your way, here’s what to do while you stay where you are, EVEN if you’re planning to leave:

Do things that make your people proud.

Adopt policies and philosophies that make doing business with you a pleasure.

Celebrate something once a week.

Seek to help, not measure who did what for whom.

Not your job? What’s your point? Do what’s best for your customer.

Hold town meetings. Let your people state their opinions and answer their concerns.

Meet with your leaders and talk frankly. Have a list and the solutions you propose to FIX the situation. You have nothing to lose but your job, and you’re leaving anyway.

And the biggest rule of them all: Treat fellow coworkers BETTER than you treat customers.

These solution-oriented actions may actually change your situation for the better. (May.)

Now, for a few personal rules as you make the transition:

Keep your attitude UP: Rather than “this stinks,” make a plan for what can be done. If nothing can be done, or what can be done falls short of your ideals, make a plan to get out.

Keep your thoughts focused on doing your BEST while you’re there: Wherever you end up, always be able to say you did your best until the last minute of the last day on the job.

Keep your mind open to other possibilities: What would you really like to do? Why aren’t you doing that anyway?

Stay away from pity parties: Odds are that if you’re dissatisfied with your job, so are others. Stay away from groaners, whiners, and other assorted nonsolution oriented people. They are a waste of your time and energy.

NOTE WELL: If you have a family, meet with them and get their ideas and their support. Your family wants the best for you. Talk to them. Get closer to the people you love in times of transition.

No risk, no reward? I say, no risk, no nothing. If you risk going someplace else to follow your dreams-a job where you love what you do-you will have a happier disposition and a more creative mind.

Fear of the unknown is always greater than fear of the known. There are no easy answers when you’re in the heat of the fire. Follow your heart, and your wallet will catch up.

Free GitBit: If you’re considering leaving, I have some questions you’ll want to ask your next employer. They’re yours by going to www.Gitomer.com – register if you’re a first time user, and enter the word JOB in the GitBit box.

Jeffrey Gitomer, author of The Sales Bible, is now offering licensed training programs to corporations, as well as distributorships to individuals, based on his best-selling books and the TrainOne online learning series. This process is starting with his newest book The Patterson Principles of Selling. Jeffrey can be reached by phone: 704/333-1112 or e-mail: salesman@gitomer.com