How would you handle this? (1 Viewer)

[FUBAR]

Wow, some of you guys seem a bit harsh. Its day 3 of a pre-conference training session. I don't know if any of you have been to these type of training sessions, but they suck (time and energy), even if you assume there are new product roll-outs/demos. How much do you think a top salesman is getting out of the third day (and a half-day at that)?

At this level, I mostly only care if my guy is hitting his numbers. If this was a no-show in front of a customer, or a no-show for the conference (which I assume is a big sales opportunity), maybe it warrants more discipline. But if this guys is closing enough business to justify a $150K+ base, then I think he gets a little leeway in this situation - he is probably not going to benefit from the last couple of hours of training time - which is taking away from his own selling time...

At every level I care about trust in my employees.

 

[matuski]

Wow, some of you guys seem a bit harsh. Its day 3 of a pre-conference training session. I don't know if any of you have been to these type of training sessions, but they suck (time and energy), even if you assume there are new product roll-outs/demos. How much do you think a top salesman is getting out of the third day (and a half-day at that)?

At this level, I mostly only care if my guy is hitting his numbers. If this was a no-show in front of a customer, or a no-show for the conference (which I assume is a big sales opportunity), maybe it warrants more discipline. But if this guys is closing enough business to justify a $150K+ base, then I think he gets a little leeway in this situation - he is probably not going to benefit from the last couple of hours of training time - which is taking away from his own selling time...

You seem to be arguing that less is expected of us in these situations. I am not sure you could be more wrong.

You get out of training what you put into it. Those not putting in the effort are noticed.

These meetings are important. Especially for a new hire. We tend to be fairly competitive with each other, treat our own company as our most important customer (this is what gets me the most about no call no showing), and make every effort to be on our game in front of leadership.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

Yeah there's a word for that behavior at 40 - alcoholism

Most high pressure sales guys are addicted to something, whether it's alcohol, drugs, pills, gambling, whatever. It's all about maintaining and functioning.

 

[matuski]

Yeah there's a word for that behavior at 40 - alcoholism

Most high pressure sales guys are addicted to something, whether it's alcohol, drugs, pills, gambling, whatever. It's all about maintaining and functioning.

What are you guys basing these assumptions on?

 

[matuski]

It isn't the movies. We are professional sales people, we are good at what we do, we are the face of the company we represent.

Missing meetings because we can, lying, alcoholism, addiction, etc... none of these are conducive to a successful career in sales. The opposite of professional.

The character you guys describe lasts about a minute when put in a professional sales organization these days.

 

[FUBAR]

Yeah there's a word for that behavior at 40 - alcoholism

Most high pressure sales guys are addicted to something, whether it's alcohol, drugs, pills, gambling, whatever. It's all about maintaining and functioning.

what makes sales guys more likely to be addicted to something than anyone else with stress at work?

 

[Dark Matter]

The guy pulls this #### show AND knows his annual review is right around the corner.

 

[sbonomo]

That's not a crazy salary for sales for the guys hung up on how much money the guy makes.

Also, Smails is in SoCal iirc.

150k a year in SoCal and you're living in a homeless shelter.

I think my incorrect mid 6 figures statement is what threw everyone off. That would be max max upside - certainly not the base. That's $160K for this position. Someone having 10+ years track record in a special vertical. And you're right about So Cal.

So a family pulling down $150k in So Cal really wouldn't be able to afford a decent house and still have money left for other stuff? That's like 3x the national family average. Crazy to think about.

depends on where you want to live. I made $180k in la (Pasadena) and lived very comfortably.

 

[kentric]

I don't understand why showing up drunk/hungover is so obviously better than no-showing. If this event was so unimportant that the 25 yo could roll in probably still intoxicated, then who cares if the 40 yo sleeps in instead?

I mentioned this too and they seem to not know how to answer it.

i think most are focused on the accumulation of the entire episode and what should be done like the OP asked........not debating whether it's better to show up hungover or simply no show.....thats probably a good question for a poll/different thread.....and I think it was shown that it was a pretty important meeting.....if it wasn't the OP probablly doesn't even start a thread about it....

There's a big difference between being hungover and hating life and having to suck it up (99% of us have done that) and showing up intoxicated. If you can function, and you're just hurting internally but can look presentable otherwise, you should show up. However, you show up drunk in the am you should be fired. We've sent guys home for good as soon as they've shown up at the booth. Come to think of it, it constantly amazes me to see the career limiting moves I see "professionals" make all the time. I've seen a sales guy get drunk on a President's Club trip and call his CFO a cheap *******, get him in a headlock, etc. I've seen guys have too many drinks and sexually harass two girls on our marketing staff until they were in tears. I've seen a chick get hammered and do snow angels on the Christmas Party dance floor with her dress going over her head while the CEO watched from the next table. Had a guy get so hammered at a conference that he walked in at 3am and promptly pissed on his roommates luggage. Other guy shows up at the booth with hickeys all over his neck after he and a customer (both married) were having cocktails at the networking reception. One guy shows up in Vegas at 11. Show started at 9am. Barely makes his demo time for a 9 person entourage, millions at stake. Still drunk from the night before and was bragging he was late because he was f'ing another client (she was hideous but I digress). I could go on and on. There seems to be a common theme for a lot of these ex employees.

You should get a pass for Christmas parties. We've had people throwing up in the gutter outside the UN. At least 3 fights. Someone had to be rolled out of the party in a wheelchair once.

 

[James Daulton]

That's not a crazy salary for sales for the guys hung up on how much money the guy makes.

Also, Smails is in SoCal iirc.

150k a year in SoCal and you're living in a homeless shelter.

I think my incorrect mid 6 figures statement is what threw everyone off. That would be max max upside - certainly not the base. That's $160K for this position. Someone having 10+ years track record in a special vertical. And you're right about So Cal.

So a family pulling down $150k in So Cal really wouldn't be able to afford a decent house and still have money left for other stuff? That's like 3x the national family average. Crazy to think about.

depends on where you want to live. I made $180k in la (Pasadena) and lived very comfortably.

This doesn't compute with what others have said.

 

[RUSF18]

An early morning call/email/text to Judge saying "I went too hard last night to make the morning training without embarrassing you with how I look and sound. I'm sorry and it won't happen again" would have gone a long way. He didn't need to even go as far as mentioning "strip club/4am". The lack of accountability and straight lying was the issue.

 

[matuski]

I don't understand why showing up drunk/hungover is so obviously better than no-showing. If this event was so unimportant that the 25 yo could roll in probably still intoxicated, then who cares if the 40 yo sleeps in instead?

I mentioned this too and they seem to not know how to answer it.

i think most are focused on the accumulation of the entire episode and what should be done like the OP asked........not debating whether it's better to show up hungover or simply no show.....thats probably a good question for a poll/different thread.....and I think it was shown that it was a pretty important meeting.....if it wasn't the OP probablly doesn't even start a thread about it....

There's a big difference between being hungover and hating life and having to suck it up (99% of us have done that) and showing up intoxicated. If you can function, and you're just hurting internally but can look presentable otherwise, you should show up. However, you show up drunk in the am you should be fired. We've sent guys home for good as soon as they've shown up at the booth. Come to think of it, it constantly amazes me to see the career limiting moves I see "professionals" make all the time. I've seen a sales guy get drunk on a President's Club trip and call his CFO a cheap *******, get him in a headlock, etc. I've seen guys have too many drinks and sexually harass two girls on our marketing staff until they were in tears. I've seen a chick get hammered and do snow angels on the Christmas Party dance floor with her dress going over her head while the CEO watched from the next table. Had a guy get so hammered at a conference that he walked in at 3am and promptly pissed on his roommates luggage. Other guy shows up at the booth with hickeys all over his neck after he and a customer (both married) were having cocktails at the networking reception. One guy shows up in Vegas at 11. Show started at 9am. Barely makes his demo time for a 9 person entourage, millions at stake. Still drunk from the night before and was bragging he was late because he was f'ing another client (she was hideous but I digress). I could go on and on. There seems to be a common theme for a lot of these ex employees.

You should get a pass for Christmas parties. We've had people throwing up in the gutter outside the UN. At least 3 fights. Someone had to be rolled out of the party in a wheelchair once.

This stuff amazingly happens.. But It only happens once in my world then your career is in the toilet.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I don't understand why showing up drunk/hungover is so obviously better than no-showing. If this event was so unimportant that the 25 yo could roll in probably still intoxicated, then who cares if the 40 yo sleeps in instead?

I mentioned this too and they seem to not know how to answer it.

i think most are focused on the accumulation of the entire episode and what should be done like the OP asked........not debating whether it's better to show up hungover or simply no show.....thats probably a good question for a poll/different thread.....and I think it was shown that it was a pretty important meeting.....if it wasn't the OP probablly doesn't even start a thread about it....

There's a big difference between being hungover and hating life and having to suck it up (99% of us have done that) and showing up intoxicated. If you can function, and you're just hurting internally but can look presentable otherwise, you should show up. However, you show up drunk in the am you should be fired. We've sent guys home for good as soon as they've shown up at the booth. Come to think of it, it constantly amazes me to see the career limiting moves I see "professionals" make all the time. I've seen a sales guy get drunk on a President's Club trip and call his CFO a cheap *******, get him in a headlock, etc. I've seen guys have too many drinks and sexually harass two girls on our marketing staff until they were in tears. I've seen a chick get hammered and do snow angels on the Christmas Party dance floor with her dress going over her head while the CEO watched from the next table. Had a guy get so hammered at a conference that he walked in at 3am and promptly pissed on his roommates luggage. Other guy shows up at the booth with hickeys all over his neck after he and a customer (both married) were having cocktails at the networking reception. One guy shows up in Vegas at 11. Show started at 9am. Barely makes his demo time for a 9 person entourage, millions at stake. Still drunk from the night before and was bragging he was late because he was f'ing another client (she was hideous but I digress). I could go on and on. There seems to be a common theme for a lot of these ex employees.

I drank at work functions until I hit around early 30's. I never did anything incredibly stupid, but I'd see people do stupid stuff all of the time. Now that I've stopped, I notice other people who are drunk and wild a lot more. And it's easy to see why most of the ones who drink and get wild are not the ones moving up the corporate ladder.

 

[jwb]

I don't understand why showing up drunk/hungover is so obviously better than no-showing. If this event was so unimportant that the 25 yo could roll in probably still intoxicated, then who cares if the 40 yo sleeps in instead?

I mentioned this too and they seem to not know how to answer it.

i think most are focused on the accumulation of the entire episode and what should be done like the OP asked........not debating whether it's better to show up hungover or simply no show.....thats probably a good question for a poll/different thread.....and I think it was shown that it was a pretty important meeting.....if it wasn't the OP probablly doesn't even start a thread about it....

There's a big difference between being hungover and hating life and having to suck it up (99% of us have done that) and showing up intoxicated. If you can function, and you're just hurting internally but can look presentable otherwise, you should show up. However, you show up drunk in the am you should be fired. We've sent guys home for good as soon as they've shown up at the booth. Come to think of it, it constantly amazes me to see the career limiting moves I see "professionals" make all the time. I've seen a sales guy get drunk on a President's Club trip and call his CFO a cheap *******, get him in a headlock, etc. I've seen guys have too many drinks and sexually harass two girls on our marketing staff until they were in tears. I've seen a chick get hammered and do snow angels on the Christmas Party dance floor with her dress going over her head while the CEO watched from the next table. Had a guy get so hammered at a conference that he walked in at 3am and promptly pissed on his roommates luggage. Other guy shows up at the booth with hickeys all over his neck after he and a customer (both married) were having cocktails at the networking reception. One guy shows up in Vegas at 11. Show started at 9am. Barely makes his demo time for a 9 person entourage, millions at stake. Still drunk from the night before and was bragging he was late because he was f'ing another client (she was hideous but I digress). I could go on and on. There seems to be a common theme for a lot of these ex employees.

I drank at work functions until I hit around early 30's. I never did anything incredibly stupid, but I'd see people do stupid stuff all of the time. Now that I've stopped, I notice other people who are drunk and wild a lot more. And it's easy to see why most of the ones who drink and get wild are not the ones moving up the corporate ladder.

To me, it's somewhat of an age/maturity thing as well. You would hope by 40, one passes the "drinks pour themselves" point, and they take into account where they are and who they are with.

I hit it hard many a night in my 20's. Home, work travel/functions, weddings, whatever. I liked to drink. Still do, but now that I'm late 40's, I'm far more apt to have 2 or 3 and be done with it. Especially out and about.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Yeah there's a word for that behavior at 40 - alcoholism

Most high pressure sales guys are addicted to something, whether it's alcohol, drugs, pills, gambling, whatever. It's all about maintaining and functioning.

Link?