The shocking words from my boss: 'You're not cut out to be a Sales Manager,' and how I came to accept my career path

Introduction: 'In conclusion, you're not cut out to be a Sales Manager'

When I was talking with my boss at work, they said this to me point-blank.

'In conclusion, you're not cut out to be a Sales Manager'

It was such a shocking statement. I was so shocked and sad that, at first, I couldn't even process it.

I've been in sales my entire career since graduating from college. Even at my first company, I worked as a manager from my fifth year onward, and since moving to my current company, I have also been entrusted with a management role in the sales department.

This happened just as people around me were telling me, 'We want you back in the sales department soon.' At the time, I could only be surprised by the gap between the expectations of those around me and the words of my boss.

The sense of discomfort I had been feeling all along

However, now that a few days have passed, I have realized something after calmly facing my own heart.

'Ah, I see. I wasn't cut out to be a Sales Manager'

I have become able to think that honestly.

Actually, I had always felt a sense of discomfort. I love the work of sales, and I love managing team members. It was a very strange feeling to watch the sales figures drop from the outside after I left the sales department, and I was genuinely happy when people told me to 'come back.'

Even so, for some reason, my heart didn't feel 'right.' Somewhere in my heart, I kept feeling a sense of dissatisfaction, wondering, 'Is this really okay for me to keep doing forever?'

I felt that the reason for that was suddenly clarified by my boss's words.

'Not cut out for it' does not mean 'useless'

The boss who told me that day that I was 'not cut out for it' also continued by saying this.

At the time, the shock was too great for me to understand, but as time passed, the warmth and meaning of those words gradually soaked into my heart.

I had convinced myself that it was something I 'loved doing' and 'was good at,' but perhaps it wasn't what I truly wanted to do. Perhaps I was the one who understood my own true characteristics the least.

Sales is something I have been doing honestly since I graduated, without knowing left from right. It is undoubtedly an important experience that shapes who I am today, and it is a profession I will continue to love. However, these days, I have begun to accept that 'my true area of expertise (the place where I can demonstrate my full potential) might not be here.'

Super's Career Development Theory: Living Through the 'Establishment Stage'

Right now, I am starting to study for a new qualification.

It was during this study that I encountered the concept of 'Career Development Stages' proposed by psychologist Donald E. Super.

• Ages 15-24: Exploration Stage... A period of exploring possibilities through trial, error, and challenges

• Ages 25-44: Establishment Stage... A period of finding a field that suits you and solidifying your foundation

When I learned about this theory, it hit me.

'I see, I am currently in the middle of establishing what suits me and what doesn't, and what kind of professional field I excel in.'

My career since graduation was never a waste; rather, it was an essential step toward understanding my own strengths and characteristics. And now, within the 'Establishment Stage' of my 30s and 40s, I was able to accept that I am exploring and building my true expertise.

Conclusion: Accepting Your Characteristics and Taking the Next Step

Letting go of a position or role you have held for many years, or admitting that you are 'not cut out for it,' might feel a little scary at first.

However, correctly accepting your own 'strengths and weaknesses' is by no means giving up; it is a positive step toward starting a life that is true to yourself.

If you are currently feeling a sense of discomfort, thinking that your career 'just doesn't feel right,' please try stopping for a moment and asking yourself.

'The place you are in now' is not everything there is to your life.

I, too, will continue to gradually establish a new professional field that suits me.

#Career #SelfAnalysis #JobChange #Management #Manager #QualificationStudy #CareerConsultant