"Believe or Leave"

Early in my sales career, I faced a pivotal moment that changed my perspective forever. I had been passed over for a promotion I believed I deserved based on my performance and qualifications. The emotions were overwhelming: anger, jealousy, defeat, and anxiety.

It’s a feeling many salespeople know all too well—whether it’s a reduction in territory, a new manager who doesn’t seem supportive, changes in commission plans, or expanded responsibilities with fewer resources. These challenges can make anyone feel stuck.

My turning point came when my supervisor presented me with three options:

1?? Leave the organization voluntarily.

2?? Accept the decision and support the individual who got the promotion.

3?? Keep my current attitude and risk losing my job.

After reflecting, I realized I had been wasting valuable time and energy playing the victim. If I wanted to move forward, I needed to focus inward and take accountability for my career. My real options boiled down to two: believe or leave.

I chose to stay, support the new sales manager, and focus on becoming the best version of myself. I leaned into three qualities that helped me heal and grow:

• Competence: Excelling in my current role and maximizing my performance.
• Character: Prioritizing integrity and owning my actions.
• Connection: Building meaningful relationships, including with the person who got the job I wanted.

The results were transformative. Within two years, the new sales manager was promoted to VP, and because of my performance and support, he chose me to take over as sales manager. I still remember telling him how much he had changed since the day we competed for the same job. His reply was humbling: “I didn’t change—you did.”

That experience taught me that real change starts from within. If you’re in a similar situation, remember: that success is about focusing on your actions and meeting the needs of others. As Zig Ziglar once said, “You can get everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.”

The choice is personal, but the results are profound. Believe or leave.