With most field-based Account Managers driving 30-50,000 miles per year.  The mental health behind loneliness, fatigue and job satisfaction can be a tough journey. There is still a lot to be said for a face-to-face meeting and interaction to build a relationship which furthers sales and increases trust in service/product delivery.  

However, you will hit an emotional wall (hopefully not a physical one), looking to reduce time spent on the road, here are some career options to consider for the next chapter of your career.

1. Inside Sales Representative: Transition to an inside sales role where you interact with clients primarily via phone and email, reducing travel. But you will know already that your impact is less likely to convert in most cases without the physical contact.

2. Account Manager (Remote): Why not seek positions that allow for remote account management, relying on digital communication and video conferencing? This could reduce your mileage and find a good balance potentially.

3. Customer Success Manager: Focus on ensuring customers achieve their desired outcomes with your company’s products or services, often through virtual interactions. Helping solve issues will help you mentally, only if the company allows the problems to be solved.  When travelling this path, ask about systems and processes, and why there is a need to have a dedicated role to fix issues within the business. Where is it going wrong?

4. Sales Operations or Support: Move into a sales support role that involves analysing data, improving processes, or assisting in sales strategy without direct client interaction. You will take a wage cut for this roll but you will probably interact with clients during the sales process, so you should find a good dopamine hit from open-minded people. 

5. Marketing Roles: Explore opportunities in marketing, where you can leverage your sales experience to help create strategies to attract and retain clients. You know what the clients want from your hours on the road and meetings, help talk the right language to increase interaction for the sales team to convert the right customers. 

6. Product Management: Consider a role that involves working with teams to guide product development, focusing on market needs rather than client-facing activities. You may have had that bright idea for a product or service that works within the confines of the business. Why not work internally to help bring that to market? 

7. Training and Development: Use your expertise to train new employees or other account managers, either in-person (less frequent travel) or online. As a trainer, you would be ideally positioned to pass on your industry experience and discuss objections/ways to convert and solve clients' problems, while also managing processes, because we all love the red tape! 

8. Consultancy: Provide advisory services to companies on best practices in account management, potentially allowing for flexible hours and travel in moderation. Flexible contracts and your own time to manage are a great way to work.  But you have to find the work first. If you have access to consultancy work, the contracts are usually fixed-term and can be intense. Choose wisely. 

Always keep your resume up to date to highlight skills that would translate well into these roles.  Opportunities come when you least expect them. Networking with professionals in your areas of interest may also provide valuable insights and opportunities.

Remain useful and a knowledgeable resource for your industry via Linkedin, Facebook and other social channels, and you will be amazed at the doors that can open.