Reflecting..

Similar to last month being a static topic (Thankful), my December topic will also be the same year-over-year and that topic is one of reflection.

With twelve months now passed that I’ve been an Account Executive, there are many things to remember. From getting told “NOPE!” on a cold call to hosting my first event when only 4 people showed up (I 5x’d that number during my last event, humble brag) – everything was a learning opportunity, and many people got me to where I am now.

I remember sending my offer letter to my brother, Ryan Warner, and Tom Alaimo. It read “I am pleased to offer you the position of Nexum, Inc. Account Executive (AE).” That one sentence has changed my life forever. Some of what I’m saying is repetitive from articles I’ve written in the past but given this is an article about reflection – bear with me.

“Reflection. Looking back so that the view looking forward is even clearer.” - Unknown

Being in a non-commission role for all of my professional career prior to coming into sales felt “fine.” I was never excellent at what I did nor did I love it. It simply was just what I did to earn money. Becoming an AE is the first time in my life where I knew what I was doing was my purpose in this world. Every-single-day I talk to people – I love talking. Every-single-day I check the sales scoreboard – I’m very competitive. Every-single-day I smile and laugh – I love smiling and laughing. There is simply no other job in the world that will allow me to do these things on a daily basis and get paid for it.

Everyone has “work friends” that they see Monday-Friday between 9-5 and those are important relationships to have because you ultimately spend more time with those folks than your own friends and family. The relationships I’ve built while being in sales are simply different. We talk/text constantly, we go out to eat or grab a drink weekly, we host events together share stories and introduce our significant others to each other. These relationships are much more than work friends – they are lifelong relationships. I’ve built many this past year and look forward to continuing to do so for the rest of my life.

I cannot finish this article without referencing a book that I’ve read, daily, throughout this entire first year of my AE Career – The Greatest Salesman in the World by OG Mandino. This book is unique in that it is broken into ten “scrolls” and you read each scroll three times a day, every day, for a month, then move on to the next scroll. Obviously there are ten scrolls and twelve months because I wanted to finish the year with the book I started this AE journey with, I re-read two of the ten scrolls. The reason for this unique layout of a book is so that the lessons within the scrolls become engrained into your daily sales and personal life. They become routine. It’s fitting that as the year comes to a close, so does my reading of this book and onto a new year. It has guided me through the year and I am beyond excited to close this year and continue growing.

Thank you to each and every person who has helped me in this journey, I simply would not be here without you, and looking forward to ’23 and beyond.

-Tanner Warner