📣Speaker | ❤️Proud Mom |🏆2024 RevOps “Ones to Watch” | 🎙️RevOps Unboxed Podcast Host | 🎖️MEDDPICC Certified | SVP of RevOps & Enablement
Sharing a #TBT! DISH Network was where I landed my first #Sales job in the "corporate" world, and I realized only after a few days of sitting in my cubicle attached to my headset that I could not be trapped inside my cubicle for another second; #InsideSales just wasn’t for me, and needed to be out in the field. Fortunately, my boss recognized that I would thrive in a #FieldSales position; he took a chance on me and offered me an opportunity to take on a new role, and I'd be the first in the company! Jeffrey Sanford! I moved to Portland, OR, and covered the Northwest. I managed large accounts like Fred Meyer, Costco, and Ace Hardware. I was by far the youngest on the team, and I was also the ONLY woman. The funny thing is that they had to change their 2-to-hotel room travel policy since I wasn't bunking with a man! I experienced a lot of, let’s call them, “challenges,” being the only woman and so young at the time. But that’s for another post! I learned the product's features and benefits (yes, when solution selling was a thing)🤷♀️ because I was selling to managers and owners who were making a living off of OUR products. I LOVED this stuff. I wanted to learn EVERYTHING so I could answer questions and guide my customers to become successful. This presentation was in 1999. Yeah, I know, people will say I shouldn't share dates because you can figure out my age, but I think my experiences can be of value, and I'm proud of my career path! In the video, I was conducting a training where we were rolling out the ability to pause live. We were doing it before anybody else. It was an exciting time. I got to go to the EchoStar satellite launch party and events sponsored by HBO and Showtime, and I was even able to visit the TiVo HQ due to the partnership! This was my first #RemoteJob; I worked from home. I had DSL at the time and a camera with a floppy disk, so I could take pictures at all of my stores and send them back to corporate. I remember needing to update my notes and make sure to send over my files before the overnight synch happened! I learned to teach my customers how to sell and make more commission! I made sure to get in front of as many as possible! I planned my weeks in 4 states and even packed my snowboard in my pickup truck just in case I got caught in a snowstorm 😉. I would even climb up on the roof at Costco to fix the satellite so our demo TV would work. In my suit, mind you. If the demo TV wasn’t working, I knew we wouldn’t sell any DISH! I KNEW sales was the path for me; I loved the independence and doing something that would make an impact. #SalesMethodology has changed!!! I really hope we are not standing up rattling off features and benefits, but what is the same? It is dedication, truly understanding what you are “selling, “ and engaging with people. 🎥In the video, I do a #demo and Pause live TV. It was evident back then that I would become a #trainer and be #speaking; even as a sales rep, I was all over it! Enjoy!
You crushed that role Sandy. And what a memory with the “pause live”. I brought that original box to my parents house to show the fam and jaws dropped. Cheers to you on the career path you paved; one that also allows you to be a present and phenomenal mama!
Great Job. Remember those days doing 5 de Mayo events and selling DISH!
📣Speaker | ❤️Proud Mom |🏆2024 RevOps “Ones to Watch” | 🎙️RevOps Unboxed Podcast Host | 🎖️MEDDPICC Certified | SVP of RevOps & Enablement
6moSteven McElroy You were running things at DISH at this time! I remember you had that new Tundra... You really believed in me.