Over the last 15+ years of building All Nation Restoration, a remediation company in Austin Texas, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Some of them were technical, some financial—but the hardest ones? People mistakes.
One of the most painful patterns I’ve seen again and again is this:
Getting sold by a salesperson who’s only ever selling you.
Now don’t get me wrong—there are great salespeople out there. Ethical, hardworking, grounded professionals who know how to build real, long-term value. But those people are rare. Far too often, what you get is a pitch-perfect performance and a shallow delivery. The con artist in a blazer.
Let me walk you through a story that still stings to this day—because maybe it’ll help you avoid the same trap.
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We were just a couple of years into the business, facing our biggest challenge yet: getting leads. Out of nowhere, I was contacted by a “seasoned professional” who had what sounded like a dream résumé and an even dreamier network.
From the first call, it felt like she was interviewing me. Her tone, her pace, her subtle arrogance—it was all calculated. She played the part of the ultra-ethical, loyal corporate operator. “I would never leave my current employer hanging,” she said. “But I’m excited about the potential here.”
When we met in person, it felt more like a date than a job interview. She name-dropped every big brand you could imagine, talked about her “book of business,” and told me I’d need to be ready for serious growth:
“Ben, just be prepared. I’m going to break your team. You won’t be able to keep up.”
In hindsight, the red flags were everywhere—but I was too excited to see them.
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Eventually, I made her an offer. Foolishly, it was double—maybe triple—my own salary at the time. Her reaction?
“Oh my, I didn’t expect something that low… but I really like you, and I believe in your mission.”
Her flattery worked. I convinced myself she was the catalyst we needed.
And then: nothing.
No leads. No deals. Just payroll.
When I questioned her about it, she flipped the narrative.
“You told me to take it slow, remember? Get to know your business? I’m just easing in.”
Confused, but wanting to believe, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Again.
Then came the requests:
Each time I obliged, I blamed myself: Maybe I didn’t set her up for success properly.
Another month. Still no leads.
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That’s when the victim persona kicked in.
She blamed her lack of results on ageism, on sexism, on the clients, on the industry. She deflected everything.
And when I finally confronted her and said we needed to part ways, the claws came out:
“You tricked me, Ben. You’ll pay for this. I’m past my 90-day probation and I’ll be filing unemployment. You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
She followed through. I spent months navigating legal messes, unemployment claims, and shame over how deeply I’d been manipulated.
And here’s the kicker: this wasn’t the last time it happened. Just the most extreme.
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Over time, I learned to spot the signs earlier. Here’s what I recommend to every business owner out there trying to build something real:
And if you start feeling like you’re the one being sold to? Step back. Hard.
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This experience—and many like it—is one of the reasons I launched Rep Lock Marketing here in Austin.
I got tired of being sold empty promises and buzzwords. I wanted results. Something measurable. Something real.
That’s what I set out to build. And that’s what we offer to other business owners who are tired of fluff and ready for traction.
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To the business owner reading this:
Don’t be the gambler who stays at the table just because you’re already down.
Cut your losses. Learn the lesson. And move forward with a sharper instinct and a clearer standard.
Because the wrong hire doesn’t just cost you money—it costs you time, confidence, and momentum.
Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay in business.
