The Origin of Sales Quotas & Variable Compensation
Audio Podcast
Todd Caponi
Podcast Episode Description
Sales 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, and no CRM system, so it’s what you did. Sell something, get paid – a lot. Don’t sell something, don’t get paid.
The birth of salary+commission changed that, and inspired the need for quotas. In this episode, we track that progression, the original purpose of a quota, and how we’ve convoluted that purpose over time.
Maybe we should consider going back?
Know Someone That Might Like This? Why Not Share!
Know Someone That Might Like This? Why Not Share!
Other Podcasts You Might Enjoy
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,...
Why Sales History Matters – If We Don’t Know It, Are We Doomed To Repeat It?
Audio Podcast Todd CaponiPodcast Episode DescriptionMany view the past-10-plus-the-next-10-years as a period where technology is and will completely change the sales profession. But if we use history as a guide, where technology was changing an awful lot more than it...




0 Comments