Morgan Mallory
Listen to the interview (approx. 55 min.) or download it.
Graduated in 2012 with a major in Music Business. Principal instrument: voice.
Position: Sales Excecutive (Business to Business sales) at The Office Connection. Working in the metro-Chicago area, Morgan sells her company’s office equipment and supplies as well as services such as cleaning and paper stredding to mostly-local businesses. Roughly one third of her time is spent managing current accounts (she earns money with every order they place.), and the rest of finding new business.
Overview: For two years after graduation, Morgan tried to make it as a singer in the Boston area, working with a wedding band and gigging, but earned a very modest income. She moved to L.A. and needed a day job. Her father, who sold coffee to offices, put in the good word to Alta Food Craft, which got Morgan a similar job. For a year, Morgan sold coffee during the day and gigged in the evening, until she was laid off. However, Morgan’s experience meant that, one application later, she was Quill, a subsidiary of Staples, which sold equipment directly to businesses. Sadly, the pay there was pretty modest, and after a while she decided that a prosperous music career wasn’t going to happen. In mid-2016 she moved home to Chicago and stopped pursuing a music career.
Between Morgan’s father knowing someone and Morgan’s very relevant work experience, soon after moving home Morgan got her current job in mid-2016. Morgan has done very well in this mostly commission-based job, which has been a major financial step up from anything she had done before. Morgan continues to work there, while planning to go back to school sometimes soon to get an executive MBA “because I belong on the C-level.”
You can see Morgan’s LinkedIn profile here.
Choice Quotes: “I join organizations and build relationships. I’m in multiples Chambers of Commerce and go to their events. Then when selling, rather than go, ‘Hi, this is Morgan. Are you responsible for ordering supplies?’ it’s much more effective to go “Hi, this is Morgan. I met Karen at such-and-such event. I’m a member of your Tenley Park Chamber of Commerce. Karen told me that you’re the person responsible for ordering supplies.”
“I’m proud to say I’m getting myself out of debt. Paying off my student loans and I’m currently looking for a home to purchase.”
“I’m juggling so much at this job! I’m up-selling current accounts. Trying to build relationships locally and nationally. Joining organizations, and going to events all the time. Those accounts I’ve build relationships with, getting them going. ”
“My Music Business classes, such as Economics and Accounting, helped me understand how the industry works and the complexities of market competition. For example, currently Staples is under financial pressure–I can tell the end user what’s happening in the market and why The Office Connection is a better bet.”
“Live your life, life your dreams, but don’t let your heart go where your brain can’t follow. If you’re not making money, that’s not a job–that’s a hobby.”
Morgan singing in the evening. “I was a professional vocalist for 10 years, mostly Boston but also L.A. for 2 years and even Dubai for 4 months. Sales is similar– like performance, you have to make a connection with people. I want my customers to say ‘I don’t just buy from the Office Connection, I buy from Morgan!'”
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