Well, what an interesting day yesterday turned out to be. For business that is - I'll address the "fun" here at the site in a separate posting.
I mentioned that I was going to sit down with one of the Sr. Reps and go over some "minor" training. Well.....everything is crystal clear now.
Let's review for a moment shall we? I was hired on to this company by 2 people that I very much wanted to work for. Very focused on training and growth. Very supportive, knew that a good sales reps needs a kick in the ass and a kiss on the forehead. Over the course of the last 10 months I on my 3rd VP and have no Territory Managers. None. So - there is no one to train. I met with my latest boss for 45 mins (along with other reps) back in June. I couldn't answer a lot of his questions, as I didn't have the info. I wasn't getting any reports. I wasn't given any training.
I made sure that he knew that.
Again - I feel like Charlie Brown's teacher. I talk, all anyone hears is WaaWaaWaaWaaWaa. Damn that pisses me off.
So I've been begging for training. No one had time, they just threw things at me with no explanation, incomplete forms, you name it.
So while I'm sitting with Sr. Rep he starts explaining how to use excel. **Side note: I was an analyst for 3 years. I have always done fact based selling that is accomplished by building databases and running analysis. I kinda know excel** After about 5 mins, I stop him, ask if he could just show me an example of where the data comes from and let me explain to him what I'm seeing so I can make sure I understand what I'm looking at.
He was surprised. And smug. Smug that he was sure I wouldn't know. I f'in blew him out of the water with my analysis. Based on a screen shot. He finally made the comment *paraphrase* Well, you DO know business. You DO understand. You aren't as ignorant as we thought. Oh - now I understand.
I was given a shit territory. By that I mean a territory that I have no control over. All I can do is be the face in the store, give training and answer questions. They Didn't Think I Was Smart Enough To Do The Job.
Screw Them. Now I have a focus. I now have the tools to understand my sales trends, analyze my demographics and understand the impact of outside influences on my business. I can now do a report that used to take me 5 hours in under 20 mins. Yeah. Now I can finally Do My Job.
And, now that I can do that, and understand what's been going on in the minds of my management, I can make some changes.
I'm gonna kick their ass. Let me explain. I have to have someone in my crosshairs. A target. At Tropicana it was Florida Natural and Minute Maid. I went after their business a drop at a time by doing my job better and better and knowing my business and my customer's business better than they did. Now - I'm going to prove to my company what a very bright girl I am. I'm going to kick ass and take names. My reports will always be the first done. I will know my business at the drop of a hat, so if someone calls I can discuss and correct on the spot.
Then I'm going to make sure they realize just how much they lost by underestimating me.
Yeah - now it's all about Tammi. My goal is to improve my territory so much that they have to apologize for the way I've been treated. And I won't accept the apology.
I may seem like a nice person, but when you screw with my life, my friends or my money I'll kick your ass. They hit 2 of the 3. Not good - for them.
Posted by Tammi at October 6, 2004 10:14 AMLooks like you finally found that purpose you were looking for.
They always come when you least expect them but when you need them the most.
You sound better, different. Like the Tammi we know and love.
Go get them Blogmom! Kick some Ass!
Posted by: Machelle at October 6, 2004 11:52 AMKick their asses, kid. They all need a little reminding.
did my own little ass kicking today. Some folks haven't got over that I reside in the reporting structure ABOVE them when I used to be just another manager. Wanted to argue about the same thing for the 30th time (mainly, they didn't want to do something that the whole world had to do and thought that they were "special") and not do the proper documentation.
Not because they didn't know it was required, but because it is "hard".
"Excuse me? When it's easy, I'll let you know. But since I'm the compliance officer and the government would be happy to kick my ass, the company's ass and anybody else's ass they felt required it if we DIDN'T do it, I'm afraid you will just have to stop whining and get it done"
(paraphrasing of course)
Of course, this person would be the first to offer themselves as a whistle blower witness (and collect the 6% "bounty" on any fines the government would place on us).
The answer was, "To bad, so sad. You shouldn't have put it off and MADE it hard. Next time you'll remember to do it the minute the issue comes up."
Buh-bye.
Posted by: kat-missouri at October 7, 2004 12:06 AMAmbitious women with a steely glint in their eyes are SUCH a turn-on ;-)
Posted by: Harvey at October 7, 2004 09:40 AM