28 years old, stuck in sales/bdr work
I just started a new BDR role 4 months ago and I can already tell it’s going to be the same cycle I’ve been stuck in for years. New company, same bs cycle. Product lackluster, market crowded, and it’s even more challenging now to do outreach then over before due to ai flooded everyone’s stuff.
I’ve been in some version of sales since 2017. Started in retail management, moved into marketing and sales roles, eventually ended up in the BDR world doing outbound, pipeline work, the whole thing. On paper it looks like a career. In reality it’s been a grind I’ve never actually felt good about.
The bad luck part is real too. I’ve had roles end in under a year because of layoffs or companies just falling apart. I even tried substitute teaching for over a year to just get out of this environment completely and figure out what else I could do. That wasn’t the answer either but it showed me I was willing to take a pay cut just to feel differently about going to work.
I’m not some consistent top performer either. I’ve had great stretches where I’m the top guy and then some I’ve missed targets. Market shifts, confidence drops, bad leadership, whatever the reason was that quarter. So I can’t even frame this as “I’m crushing it but I’m miserable.” I have moments of very productive results but I struggle to maintain that level to a point where the income justifies the suffering.
Im ready to be done with cold outreach. Really done with quotas. Done with leadership that doesn’t know how to lead. I would love to get out of sales completely but I’m realistic about the fact that something adjacent might be the smarter first step.
Has anyone made this kind of transition? What did you move into and what actually transferred over? What does the path look like realistically from where I’m at?
Just looking for honest advice from people who’ve actually done it.
If it helps I have a bachelors degree in business administration/management.