What A Director Of Sales At Ouster Lidar Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Sales Industry
Max, Director of Sales at Ouster Lidar Inc., learned that "you are not always in control" in their sales role, requiring a shift from focusing solely on immediate tasks to strategically managing time and mental headspace. This involved accepting periods of "slow" work as a natural fluctuation, rather than a personal failing, a lesson learned over time and continually practiced.
Time Management, Stress Management, Strategic Thinking, Sales, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Max Coates
Director of Sales - Strategic Accounts
Ouster Lidar Inc.
University of Colorado, Boulder
N/A
Economics
Electronics & Semiconductors, Technology
Sales and Client Management
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Time management is crucial in sales, but it's not just about completing tasks; it's about strategically moving things forward.
2. There will be periods of high activity and downtime. Learning to manage your mental health and avoid driving yourself crazy during slow periods is essential.
3. You are not always in control. Adapting to fluctuations in workload and accepting that some things are outside of your direct influence is critical for success and mental well-being.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before entering the industry?
"I think it kind of goes back to time management. Later on in my sales career, I was twiddling my thumbs, waiting on things I had nothing to do, and I was kind of losing my mind. I was used to having an endless workload.
But it was a shift in thinking. It wasn't about, 'What tasks do I need to do right now?' It was, 'How do I strategically move something along?' That's just a different way to wake up and think about stuff every day.
So, yes, you're not doing stuff, but mentally, it's kind of taxing. It took me a while to realize I have to figure out how to manage my own mental headspace and how I am spending my time, and be okay with that.
When it comes, it's a flood. When it's slow, it can be slow. You can drive yourself crazy just thinking, 'I'm not doing enough.' You are doing enough when there is seasonality or fluctuation in how these things work.
It took me a while to learn that, and it's still something I work on all the time. But it's not anything you can't get better at."
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