What next? Mojo content….

Sounds like you actually have a solid plan, and IIRC you've moved employers before,  so why not just do whatever you did again?*

*I'm assuming you weren't headhunted of course, if you were, maybe find some decent recruitment agencies in your field and discuss what aspirations with them.

what I really want – sales or not – is to wake up excited about what I do in work time

If you figure it out, I'm sure there's plenty on here who'd love to know the secret!

Kryton
You have been here before with these thoughts on plenty other threads.
I don't know you,but from all the 'stuff' posted/shared in the past,I feel you should move,and I mean a BIG MOVE.
Imagine the situation if you were suddenly faced with redundancy, what would you do?
For lots of folk these extreme changes can often give them the kick up the arse they needed*
The hardest thing is making that first move,have a long talk with Mrs K and find out what you both could make work.
Good luck.

* I speak from experience 😉

What colour is your parachute?

@fasthaggis indeed and I agree, I’d love to do something different albeit admittedly I’m a bit risk averse.  I guess the question I’m asking is how do you define where to move / what the direction is?  Where to find the “something” that you have the desire and passion for?

Reeksy, I’m familiar with at least the concept of using my network which does mean being a little more overt, but perhaps I need to re-read based on the first para of this post above, thanks for the reminder.  

You spoken to Mark Rice @Kryton57?
I was in a similar situation to you and speaking with him helped clarify my next move.
If not him, it's certainly worth sitting down with someone independent and detached from things to have a chat and work things through.

I haven't actually @lunge since the first tome around 2 years ago....  but thats a good shout thanks.

In your previous posts you did intimate this or something similar might happen. Difficult as it is you really need to take decisive action and leave where you are, from what you told us you were put in a no win situation which is now maturing as you suspected.

I get the low mood, having been in your situation and beyond, motivating yourself is so hard, but please get out now while you can and don't wait for the axe, it's so much harder then.

I know of few folk that have "passion" for their work.  A couple of teachers maybe but they all have either retired early or gone part time because of burnout.<br /><br />As a nurse I did a worthwhile job that gave me a lot of satisfaction but I never was excited to go to work.  It was great to come home some days and think " today I made a real difference"  but that is rather different to being excited to go

Public service gives you a real sense of worth - and I would guess that there are some roles where you can use your skills.  Salery will be much lower tho I guess.  Very rarely will it give that "buzz" you seem to be looking for

Charity sector as well - but all the same applies but to know that your contribution meant something good could work.

How about an ecologically sound startup or small company?  Help them grow and I can see for someone with your skillset / mindset that could be exciting.

Just ramblings really.  dunno if anything there is helpful

It sounds to me like you need to leave there ASAP. If it were me, I would find another job and see how you feel in 12 to 18 months. A new place with different colleagues and a new product might be enough to excite you, if not you can re-assess and look at other options.

So, a couple of things.   I did buy and am reading again “Parachute”.  There’s a few things I’d forgotten and it’s definitely worth taking the time to re evaluate over Xmas. <br /><br />

constructive dismissal

I found out that’s very difficult if not impossible if you’ve been there less than 2 yrs.

Still nothing formal but it looks as though I’ll be asked to be in a small group of Senior Sales managing the companies biggest accounts - a return to previous.   After attending and enjoying a day long customer visit the other day - rare in my current position - I’d forgotten how much I enjoy the customer interaction. <br /><br />

So, I won’t fight it now.  I’ll have a senior and varied wfh/office/customer role on good money with less stress and more chance to earn commissions for our pensionable future in an industry I know and customers i have relationships with, plus a little redundancy money if it came to that.  And - please take this as a logical statement not a brag - I know I’m good at it.  In fact I can look at it as an opportunity to ask myself if I want to actually been in management again.  I can take time to evaluate, and if necessary execute a plan B next year.   As for any loyalty, well it’s a restructure but I know where I stand don’t I, and no one would be surprised if I resigned in 6 months.

Onward with positivity...

And – please take this as a logical statement not a brag – I know I’m good at it.

I know you have issues, but this tells me a lot.... you are allowed to think you're good at your job, it's not bragging, it's a fact... Even if it is bragging, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Believe in yourself, be yourself, trust in you...

+1 to that.

So many of us have imposter syndrome, that it isn't really remarkable. Maybe the naming of it is the problem, instead a healthy level of self challenge is good, but at the same time and as we do everywhere else, what's the external evidence? Do others think you do a good job, does your past sales record say you're good at what you do, etc. And DO believe the hype and give yourself the credit for it.

To the problem in hand. I got pretty close to the top of the tree as GM of a division, and hated it. I was too far removed from the things I liked doing and (allied to the owner being a nightmare) it was making me miserable. I got out and do something now that is still stressful at times but genuinely good fun. Do I leap out of bed and can't wait to get in - no, be realistic, but I'm generally enthusiastic about what today will involve. I earn about £30K a year less than I did..... not a brag, just saying that it was worth nix compared to doing stuff you enjoy. You're 51, if you can save up to retire at 60 that means you have about 2000 days left to work. 16,000 hours. Too many to be doing shit you hate.

Sounds like you have the opportunity to go back to what you enjoy with this company and the 'demotion'. You don't say if it's less money though, or just 'status' (which as i say can get in the sea vs enjoying your job). Look at it that way, opportunity to move internally to a job you enjoy and know you're good at, on decent money, and at the same time sniff around and see if anything crops up that you think you'd like even more?

Life's for living, not building status in other people's eyes, especially if you can't even actually credit yourself for it.

Thanks for the encouragement.  And yes Tojv, they wouldn’t give my all the top accounts of my sales record wasn’t as good as it is.   Money hasn’t been discussed, I sure as hell hope it won’t change based on the importance my suggested account list, but I won’t be happy if it does.   At worst it’s a positive transition with a bit of an ego kick while I seek a move, at best I’m entrusted with the top accounts which may even result in more years of successful sales to support my family without having to change jobs.  And, I get to play with customers again, work location variety which I enjoy and paid for steak & wine during my travels rather than 99% work from home in endless budget / strategy meetings.  🙂