The History of Honesty and Transparency in Sales
Audio Podcast
“If the truth won’t sell it, don’t sell it.” – the words of Arthur Dunn from 1919. In the early 20th century, the sales profession embraced a culture of honesty & transparency. In today’s episode:
- We start with an amazing passage from Baltasar Gracian from his 1647 book, The Art of Worldly Wisdom.
- We explore the brilliant quotes and minds of that period as it relates to honesty in sales.
- Then, we put a bow on it by theorizing on why the sales profession sits at the bottom of Gallup’s annual “Trusted Professions” list – and why honesty is the key to regaining our admiration.
Other Podcasts You Might Enjoy
The Origin of Sales Quotas & Variable Compensation
Audio Podcast Todd CaponiPodcast Episode DescriptionSales compensation - commission-only until the 1900's. And, for good reason. You wouldn't pay a rep you rarely see a salary, right? Sales are face-to-face. Travel is slow, there's no real-time distance communication,...
When Did Cold Calling Begin?
Audio Podcast Audio Podcast Todd CaponiPodcast Episode DescriptionCold calling - some love it, some hate it, but when did it start? Specifically, when did salespeople start cold canvassing (in-person), and when did they start doing it using the telephone?The answers...
The Origin of “Drummers” & “Bagmen” – The 1800’s
Audio Podcast Todd CaponiPodcast Episode DescriptionAre you responsible for "drumming up business" in your role? Do you "carry a bag" as a salesperson? Do you know where those terms come from? They come from the traveling salespeople of the 1800s. In today's episode,...




0 Comments