In this monologue, the speaker recounts a costly mistake in their first startup: hiring a seasoned salesperson who, over three months, closed no deals. The failed hire strained cash flow, delayed projected revenue, and set the company back several months. Drawing from this experience, the speaker promises to share ten concrete actions founders should take when hiring their first sales representative to avoid similar setbacks.
My first sales hire in my first startup was a disaster. We were tight on cash for a while, but after we had worked hard for a few years, I figured it was time to hire a seasoned salesperson so he can get us larger accounts and also more profitable projects. The terms were simple and the salary was handsome. We didn't expect this to go wrong in any way, but after a painful 3 months, our new salesperson did not close a single deal. It was a hard lesson. Suffice it to say, it set us back many months, it was a big hit on our budget, and delayed much projected revenue. To avoid what happened to me, here are 10 actions you must take when you're hiring your first sales guy or gal.
