The Origin of Sales Quotas & Variable Compensation

Aug 17, 2021 | Podcast

Episode 11

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?

0 Comments

Other Podcasts You Might Enjoy

Early 1900s Sales Hiring: Timeless, or Taboo?

Early 1900s Sales Hiring: Timeless, or Taboo?

Early 1900s Sales Hiring: Timeless, or Taboo? We believe we know today the traits it takes to be a successful salesperson, but do we? In the early 1900s, while many of the thoughts were the same as today, there was some "off-limits" thinking as well. In this...

read more
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Sales Hasn’t Changed

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Sales Hasn’t Changed

Episode #50! Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Sales Hasn’t Changed In this, the 50th episode of The Sales History Podcast, I step into the role of prosecuting attorney to put one bold claim on trial: that the sales profession has changed dramatically in the past decade. My...

read more