The Offer

In my line of work, "the offer" is the culmination of what is often a long process. Multiple interviews, on-line personality profiles, 30-60-90 day business plans, ride-alongs and a visit to corporate for final interviews. There are so many gauntlets a candidate must run through... I continue to be amazed every time someone I am representing makes it all the way through!

For the man or woman who does, the climax of the challenging hiring process is "the offer". It's the sort of holy grail of every job seeker. In the medical sales world it usually comes first as a verbal offer with a written one to follow contingent on successful background/criminal checks and a drug test. If I have done my job right, this offer should minimally be at least as good as I had originally described it some 4-12 weeks earlier. This is a sensitive, emotionally-charged time for all parties, hardly a time for negative surprises like a low-ball offer. No, quite the opposite. One of the best things that can happen at this juncture is having some positive, unexpected, elements included as part of the offer. This makes it so much easier to overcome those last twinges normally involved with the fear of making a change.

For medical sales positions, the typical elements of an offer are the base salary, benefits, expenses, car program of some sort, 401 k and sometimes, stock options. Although commissions are part of these positions, only the commission rate (% of sales generated) is named since actual results will depend on the person's efforts combined with a number of other factors which would take me hours to list. It is not uncommon for reps to have a 50-60k base with a reasonable expectation of total first year dollars of 110-130k with commissions (not including the value of the car program, expenses and benefits). Sounds pretty nice, heh?

Virtually every search I work on includes 5-10 candidates who avidly pursue each step of the hiring process. This includes lots of extra efforts done behind the scenes. These efforts include, but are not limited to speaking with physicians who have or could be users of the device, contacting past/present reps in other parts of the country, getting letters of recommendation and elaborate 90 day sales plans which outline the what, whys and hows of the candidate's strategy in launching their initial efforts.

Sometimes candidates get really creative and kind of over-the-top in their exuberance to pursue the most sought after opportunities. Like the time a hiring manager was questioning my final candidate's commitment to doing the travel necessary to cover a 4-state territory. This candidate came up with a scheme sure to put a wooden knife in to the heart of this Dracula: He bought 4 radial tires and had them delivered to the manager's home with a note attached: "I am prepared to wear these out to make us both a success". He got the job (and his first task was to arrange for the pickup and return of the tires!).

For the candidates, it's all about the pursuit. Their pursuit needs to be obvious at every step of the way. Virtually every manager is looking to hire not only the most qualified person but also the person who has demonstrated the most "fire in the belly", who has shown their desire for the position most clearly and with the greatest impact.

This worldly process stands in such stark contrast to "the offer" of the kingdom (I will refer to this as "the K offer"). Like so many other things of the kingdom of God, there is paradox galore. Like take the whole concept of pursuit. Imagine having the CEO of every medical company looking for a new sales rep personally pursue each candidate. (I realize the analogies in this are woefully imperfect and may be a bit of a stretch but come on, humor me.) In the kingdom economy things couldn't be more different. Ponder the seeming implausibility of having the very Creator of the universe personally go after every person in an effort to have them hear, believe and receive the offer of all offers: forgiveness of all sin, a new heart, a restored life and an eternity in paradise. Implausible perhaps but true nonetheless.

Furthermore, imagine each individual being pursued for this amazing offer to be absolutely unqualified and undeserving in every way imaginable. Heck, I'll do you even better than that...go ahead and picture a person who has lived their entire life as a criminal and moments before they die they get "the K offer". Pretty scandalous wouldn't you say? It happened! Pursuit? Imagine "candidates" who often spend the better part of their lives running away from "the K offer". Avoiding any and everything having to do with it in an effort to mimic Frank Sinatra and be able to say ..."I did it my way". But that's how this topsy-turvy kingdom economy seems to work.

And then there are the elements of "the K offer". We get nothing less than a totally transformed life, from the inside out, cleansed from all sin and forgiven for every hurt we have ever caused. Our hearts are turned from stone to soft instruments of love towards our neighbor. We get to cease from all our striving, we are delivered from all fear and anxiety and every insecurity our former paranoid minds were able to conjure. We are called friends of the Creator himself. He invites each to come with him to where he is seated and co-reign with him. He promises no more tears or sadness and exchanges those for a glorious forever, uninterrupted by any perils and completely devoid of all enemies.

And the cost of such an offer? Everything! All you have, all of you! No "just 4 easy payments of $29.99" here. For "the K offer" to apply, we must say 'No' to our own rights and say 'Yes' to having a Lord in our life who is worthy of obedience. The world has a way of calling such high-priced items "pricey". I suppose that is accurate enough as it applies to "the K offer". Perhaps that's why we often live our lives outside the offer even after we have said 'Yes'. It takes at least intentionality to live a surrendered life. But the antidote to getting back into living within "the K offer" can be as simple as doing an honest inventory of what we are actually giving up. I mean really, giving up our terminally flawed ways of getting love and respect in exchange for being part of a royal priesthood who will some day judge angels? Please!

Tomorrow, when I return to the matrix of work, I have a candidate who has spent the weekend considering "the offer". He's one of those more analytical types who likes to sleep on it (actually somewhat unusual in the sales world). I hope he says 'Yes'. I get paid nothing if he says 'No'. But it's not about me, it's his life and his decision will be the final word. But even before I hear from him I will have my own decision to make. For I find that to walk within "the K offer" requires a fresh 'Yes' every day. And at multiple points throughout the day. It's an amazing offer! Even more amazing in that sometimes I am hesitant to say 'Yes'. I seek to believe, Lord help my unbelief.

Gratefully aboard this ride of faith....Santiago out.