Jacob Gebrewold, a former minister turned SaaS AE at Sprout Social, shares his unique journey into sales.
He shares the challenging experiences with bullying in his youth and how it shaped his approach to relationships and communication. He talks about his early struggles in sales, being fired and placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP), and the resilience he developed from his background as the child of Ethiopian refugees.
Jacob emphasizes the importance of having a higher purpose, maintaining a singularity of focus, and seeking help from mentors to turn his career around. He also discusses the impact of his faith on his work and provides insights into his daily routines and tactics for building genuine connections with clients.
00:52 Jacob's Early Life and Sales Beginnings
03:48 Overcoming Social Challenges
10:13 First Sales Job and Initial Struggles
12:58 Resilience and Support
16:24 Impact of Immigrant Upbringing
21:30 A Personal Layoff Story
22:55 Finding Worth Beyond Work
24:41 Maintaining Conviction Daily
26:55 Anchors for Non-Believers
28:28 Indicators of an Aligned Life
32:46 Daily Routines for Success
35:31 Building Genuine Connections in Sales
41:11 Slowing Down to Speed Up
43:38 Final Thoughts and Advice
