Love this thread - I got out about 15 years ago after about 8 years and the only thing I have to show for it is a worse atherosclerosis than I had before joining the industry. I always had side hustles that served a dual purpose - mental health boost and supplemental income (I actually made more on the side for a few years than with my pharma gig).
My true epiphany moment came when I witnessed a rep giving a textbook canned presentation to one of my doctors - it was like I was at training again, watching the most uncomfortable role play session in history. Doc looking at his watch, looking away, the rep oblivious. At one point the rep talked about the drug giving “a 1-2 punch”, and did a Rocky-like motion toward the doctor - he about jumped out of his Dockers it startled him so much. Not to judge presentation styles, but this was beyond embarrassing and just stuck with me. I was mortified, I didn’t want to be this guy.
I have stayed in sales and bounced a bit, became a victim of the Great Recession with an extended stint of unemployment but have survived, although now I’m in a sales position that pays great but pretty much sucks the life out of me daily. I have basically checked out and need to reinvent myself outside of sales. Guess I should have stuck with an engineering degree...
