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In 2007 I needed a job. I started in software sales. I always loved tech. So why not?
I had a successful first year and I realized I didn’t suck at this.
In 2008 the economic downturn made selling my product virtually impossible. Here’s how I (we) made it through. (Thread)
I had a successful first year and I realized I didn’t suck at this.
In 2008 the economic downturn made selling my product virtually impossible. Here’s how I (we) made it through. (Thread)
At the time I was working for an engineering and manufacturing software reseller. I sold software to big and small manufacturing companies and the engineering firms and machine shops that supported them.
Automotive was a huge industry for us and that industry crumbled.
Automotive was a huge industry for us and that industry crumbled.
Besides software the only thing I could sell was training.
But budgets were frozen, people were getting laid off, things were bad. Who would buy training?
But budgets were frozen, people were getting laid off, things were bad. Who would buy training?
I started researching different provincial programs designed to incentivize companies and individuals to invest in career training. Some of these programs had been around a long time but almost nobody took advantage.
I quickly found a couple programs that were a perfect fit. They didn’t just subsidize the cost of the training and certification. They covered 100% of the costs up to a certain amount.
I remember telling my boss about the program at the time and we immediately sprung into action.
We met with the staff who managed the program. We learned the ins-and-outs of the application process and we started to get the word out.
We ran webinars. We filled out the application forms on behalf of companies. We worked with individuals in the industry who had been let go.
I remember I would follow up on the status of applications each week.
I remember I would follow up on the status of applications each week.
In 2007 we were a software company that offered training and certification.
In 2008 we transformed into a career skills development company.
Software sales plummeted.
We sold millions in training revenue.
I bet we trained and certified more than a thousand people that yr.
In 2008 we transformed into a career skills development company.
Software sales plummeted.
We sold millions in training revenue.
I bet we trained and certified more than a thousand people that yr.
The best part is that we helped a ton of people. Their lives and careers were now on completely different trajectories.
The industry came back. And the companies and people that we helped remembered us and never forgot it.
The industry came back. And the companies and people that we helped remembered us and never forgot it.
I learned a ton that year about resilience, helping people, and focusing on what I could control and blocking out everything else.
Obviously this virus is a very different thing than what happened in 2008.
Above all else - we need to focus on keeping ourselves, our families and our communities safe by staying home so we can defeat this virus.
Above all else - we need to focus on keeping ourselves, our families and our communities safe by staying home so we can defeat this virus.
But when we DEFEAT the virus there will certainly be economic headwinds.
But there will also be opportunities.
Personally, I’m going to lean on what I learned in 2008.
1. Be resilient
2. Focus on what I can control
3. Stay positive and look for the opportunities.
But there will also be opportunities.
Personally, I’m going to lean on what I learned in 2008.
1. Be resilient
2. Focus on what I can control
3. Stay positive and look for the opportunities.
Cc: @ChrisFHfx
