Sage News and Discussion

If you were a Presidents Circle winner this year well I am sorry to say that it is time to unpack your bags. Sage has been notifying partners that Presidents Circle for 2011 is canceled.

What! Is today April Fools Day? What a disincentive! But then again, since the same faces were always going, what kind of incentive was it?

Thats still kind of bull. As much as I don't like the same faces going, that kind of like getting mad at rich people for being rich. As long as those var's didn't cheat or steal to get there, they deserve it. That being said, I don't think merged partners should be weighted against organically grown the same way. Hell, we could all just merge here and be crowned king at sage, but it doesn't mean we are any smarter or more successful

just imagine you are a partner who for the first time had a chance to make the President's Circle and for whom a trip to Florida was a huge deal. You busted your hump to get deals closed and were lucky enough to make it on the list. The night you find out, you go home and tell your spouse and 3 kids know that daddy/mommy won a trip to Florida and you will all be going to Disneyworld while you are there. You make plans, everyone gets excited, and then 6-8 weeks before the trip you are told, ahhh change of plans, we are going to Nashville instead. And to real turn the knife, they try and spin it as an ""upgrade"". Wouldn't want to have to deliver that message, might as well not go home. And, I have been to Nashville, and while a nice place, unless you are a music fan, it is not an upgrade over DisneyWorld or the Fountainbleu. And even more troubliing, why is Tom Miller hanging around to be the front guy having to deliver all these horrible announcements. He must have have enough money by now. He can't possibly like coming to work every day knowing he had to lie his ass off to the channel?

They're making Tom available for Q&A - but honestly what can you ask about this that won't be repeated by a ""we wanted to improve the experience"" ... as if they didn't know it needed improving after last year... In Sage's official email they're indicating: At Sage Summit you will be recognized and highlighted throughout the event venue. You will have individual sessions with Sage executives and be a guest of honor at the partner recognition celebration. In addition, you and your guest will be hosted by Sage at an exclusive off-site event to further celebrate your achievement. Which is interesting because the one (and only) year I went they had an executive luncheon for the Presidents Circle folks where you got to meet and greet the execs. So I'm unsure what's really happening in Nashville other than it sounds like Sage may be putting up the winners for a night or two. My guess is in the same off-site hotel that Sage probably is using but who knows.

I love the comment about being recognized and highlighted throughout the event venue. I feel like I'm always seeing the names of the PC members! So ... what's new there? Last year I snuck in the back door to the Scottsdale event via the Sage Spirit award. I was perfectly happy with it as it was the first time my wife and I had a getaway with just the two of us since the birth of our son. @MikeFitzgerald hit the nail on the head with both his points. People planned for that trip - it was supposed to be in less than two month FFS!!!! My wife and I were excited to be going. It's unlikely she is going to want to go hang out at Nashville in August while I'm in business sessions. And ... seriously ... how hard must it be for Tom Miller to sell shit like it's roses? 100% agreement with Mike on this matter. Tom is a decent guy (or he's the world's best actor). What photos does Sage NA have on him to keep him around? If it's cost cutting, economy is hard - just tell us the news. Yeah - you will have some bitching but I think we would all appreciate the honesty. If that's not the truth, it just leads to speculation which has been a constant sore spot for the channel since Summit. The funny thing is that I think most of the management team is strong - including Pascal. So, how do things keep getting cocked up? Am I a rotten judge of character and these guys are all clueless? Is it just the economy sucks? Is it the UK mothership demanding more? Are customers bailing faster than we can tell? Constant speculation is a bogus way to run your business.

It's in my opinion the transition from Sue to Pascal and I wonder if Sage has the right person leading.

Wayne, your post is a bit vague. What about the transition from Sue to Pascal? Has this been posted to LinkedIn? I'm not seeing it.

Mike, on an unrelated note, don't underestimate bow great Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains are. Well worth making some extra time. And spending 4 to 7 days thsre

I've been fortunate to have attended the last couple of events. There are those that make it every year but there are also pleanty of new faces that attend also. Quite a good mix. What was communicated to me was this change was based on partner feedback to take PC to another level. Really? I'm with Peter, just tell the truth. I could accept that much easier than suggesting this is what partners wanted. I don't know how we can trust anything Sage says going forward given they make so much hype about the trip and the reward and then don't fulfill their promise Not sure I even have a desire to attend Summit at the moment. Have to go console my kids, they are crying because they don't get to go see Mickey Mouse.

Who called you to break the news Bob? Did you explain that you already had a family trip planned around it?

Unless they are on the verge. Bankruptcy, they ould have did it this year and then announced they were changing things next year

Let's see. 1) Botched roll out on partner certification 2) Botched roll out on new branding program 3) Botched partner webinar last month 4) Botched handling of Partner Sales Performance award program. 5) Partners finding a note in their Christmas stocking that the previously promised lump of coal for stocking will not be delivered.

I can only imagine that they are hurting financially for something like this to happen. I'm not savvy on their financials - do they break out North America? And do they break out the different product lines or groups? If so, we'll find out the news in a week and a half.

They usually don't break out specifics - they provide growth and general profit/loss but not enough specifics to know what products are selling and what aren't.