A Sit Down was called.

NOTE. THIS IS LONG, BUT IMPORTANT POST. COMMENTS AND JOB SUGGESTIONS ENCOURAGED.

Enjoy.

When the new GM introduced himself just 2 days ago, he said he wanted to schedule time with each and every employee to get to know the station. Just a real "get to know you" meeting. No pens, no notes, just a talk.

Surprise Surprise, he wants to meet with the sales team first. Coincidence? I think not.

So, being proactive, I immediately respond to his secretaries email, and schedule a meeting. I go up there, and am about 5 minutes early, so i wonder into Boss1's office. I can tell he is really a fan of mine, and i of him. i sit down, we chat, and i can tell he has been working over time to keep his job security. we shoot the shit, he goes over my accounts for me to see what they are billing, because i honestly think he wants to try to hook me up with a really low commission base next quarter so i can make money. we also talked about the Club he is helping me become a member at, and when i get up to go meet with the new GM, Boss1 stops me, and in a sincere tone says, Will, be yourself, you will do great.

Going into the meeting, i didnt think much of the comment. I mean, these are informal "get to know Will" chats right? Wrong.

So GM lets me do a lot of talking. I tell him about college, water polo (GM played in HS), about moving out of the country, about working for myself freelancing, and then about how i feel into sales. He immediately asked "why sales? you are a production guy?" Now, our last GM threw this at me my last interview before getting the job. I explained that Barbie had really enlightened me about all that is great about sales: meeting new people, talking and discerning marketing needs of a new client, and being social and making money. I told him "i love meeting people, i can be placed in a room of 50 people, and i will survive, and even like it" and thats why i chose sales. And to be fair, i do like that SIDE of sales. But it is not all one sided.

Side note. This GM was taking notes on EVERYTHING i said. Even when i mentioned Costa Rica, or my brother, or my parents, he took down notes in almost an intimidating manner. I mean, cant he just brush that off as conversation?

So, after that question, he jumps right into what Boss1 was alluding to. "Tell me a success story on one of your accounts Will"

Informal "lets meet Will" sit down, right?

I tell him about my one very large account, that dropped one chat line, cut their budgets, yet i still increased our stations dollars by 30K. He seemed, indifferent. Maybe this is his personality.

I then saved my ass by pro actively bringing up local new business, which i am supposed to be focused on. I told him that i have not had much success in this area, however i have a lot of clients in my pending pot, that i am certain if TV Station can offer something that will work for them, then we will get their business. Here is where the one sentence that came out of his mouth made me realize 2 things. One: Tv Station sales is going to be under the watchful eye of our new GM, under the most powerful microscope you nerds can conjure up to imagination. Second, my job will no longer be somewhat flexible, my accountability will be unreal, and i will NOT be getting ANY sort of raise in the next few weeks.

"Will, the flame under local new business sales is going to be turned up a notch."

Yowsers.

As he looked at his watch, i new he had to go to another meeting. I wanted to get the last word.

"GM, seeing as I am you, career wise 13 years ago [he explained this] can you give me advice for the ensuing months here at TV Station?"

I thought this was a decent question.

He replied that he is looking for a hero in sales. And from what he hears, he thinks I have the skills to be that hero, and do really well with new business development. He wants me to be focused on my key new accounts, and go after them, and if they are going nowhere, to fire them.

Well, now i know he probably meant 50% of that, I fear that this GM is a bit too optimistic. Perhaps, I am too pessimistic, and he was trying to give me the pep talk to get me on the phone and hungry. For now, I just dont know. I am 3 months away from being there for a year. I can make it for those 3 months. Maybe in the next three months, GM will prove to be the save all end all of my financial and emotional woes. But, man, when i do get that first commission check, i cant WAIT to pay off my debts, and be on a clean slate, ready to spend, save, or blow whatever comes after that.