7 minutes in heaven

This week, I got a new iPad at work.  I took it out of the box, set it up and configured it to work with the sales effectiveness application I’m “in charge of” at work in just under 7 minutes. 

Before I did this, I happened to notice The Sales Guy sitting in our dark “junk room” (formerly known as a garage) completely illuminated by his computer screen.  Looking angelic really.  I was so excited to show him the iPad and my work stuff that I bounded down the hallway into the darkness.  When I got there, he was STILL sitting there staring at a screen that looked like an old school version of Pac-man. At closer glance, it was his CRM system, where he is tracking customer information and opportunities.  I couldn’t help myself, “What the is that mess?”  With his head in his hands, he just groaned, “It’s my piece of sh*t CRM. They made things so complicated. All I need is a freaking quote – 55 fields later, I still don’t have it.” 

He asked me what I was doing so I showed him and all he could say is, “You need to come to my office and tell the how to set this up so I can get more stuff done.  Like have dinner.”  And, at that moment, I realized I think I’m onto something here.  With a lot of help and hard work from my-co-workers, of course. 

This may be the first time I genuinely realized that what I’m doing for work can really help people.  And I’ve struggled for some time feeling like I’m sufficiently smart (you be the judge) and work super hard but that whatever I’ve done has made really no difference where things really need help or count.  If the application I’m working so hard to get into the market really does even a portion of what I think it can, this could mean The Sales Guy (and people like him) get to get more done more quickly and spend more time with their families and doing fun stuff.  Houston, I think I’m entering into a whole new galaxy and I’m ready for it!

Why is it that every time I want to sit down and write something here, I lose exactly what I wanted to say?  Oh, that’s right, because I’m The Sales Guy’s Wife and have too many things going on at once.  But, let me tell you, I have it somewhat easier than The Sales Guy. (Don’t tell him I said that.) 

Just last week, he was in NY for a day, then back to NH, then in OH and then in NJ for a family visit. As I was sitting at the table in the atrium of our hotel gazing up at the elevator yesterday, I realized how comfortable he looked in that vessel.  As if he is used to riding elevators to go from his bedroom (i.e. hotel room) to his kitchen (i.e. Embassy Suites custom omelet station). We live in a ranch house, so there is absolutely no correlation to our home life and the layout of the hotel.  However, unlike our house, The Sales Guy knows EXACTLY where the silverware is at the Embassy and when the milk machine is in need of a refill.  (It’s a given that he doesn’t know where these things are in our house.) In fact, he even offers to “make” our son and me our breakfast if we wish when we are at the Embassy with him. Sounds awesome, right?

Not really. The Embassy has a full staff to take care of the hotel, the food, the guests, etc. When The Sales Guy is on the road, it’s The Sales Guy’s Wife who takes care of the grounds at casa de Meyer, the food, the guests, etc.  But, really, what we miss is The Sales Guy himself and I think he misses us. It’s funny to think about the stereotype I’ve heard for so many years as I work in an industry that enables sales folk.  It’s often said that sales people are self-centered and “in it for me.”  Funny thing is, my perspective is that the best sales people are the ones who are exactly the opposite of this. Always putting the customer’s needs first (because, without that, you can’t create a business case) so that they can satisfy them and, yes, make money. The tough part is, sometimes that comes at the cost of all else, including the higher valued things in life like family. 

So, why am I droning on here?  It’s truly awesome to watch The Sales Guy thrive and, as we move through the second half of yet another quarter of business as well as the second half of summer, it’s a reminder to strike a better balance of work and family.  Because, ultimately, I’ve already bought what The Sales Guy was selling.  J