Money doesn't lie. If that $600k is what you want, then stop developing and start selling. The fact that you either can't or don't want to will answer the question.
I also lack both skills and desire to sell. The job sounds like a nightmare to me. So I don't begrudge those that are good at it and earn those commissions. I envy the comp, but it'd be silly to be jealous when I wouldn't actually switch places with them. $150k is great money in its own right.
And that's not normal comp for salespeople. It's the sort of thing top performers can make (or more). Not a top performer? Even because of factors totally outside your control? Too bad. Good luck finding a new job.
Yeah, it's a meat grinder. I've been on countless calls where Sally–who smashed records last quarter—is being called on the carpet for small miss this quarter. Miss 2 in a row? Nice knowing you, good luck in your future pursuits.
Another thing I forgot to mention, your best sales people can and will take their customers with them if they go across the street and work for your competition. I've also seen that happen with disgruntled high-performers. We basically lost an entire region a few years back when the star sales rep there decided to go independent and steer her enormous client base to a rival provider.
Everything is extreme in sales. The best earn more, the worst barely make rent.
> your best sales people can and will take their customers with them
And this has been validated by multiple court cases: the sales person owns their "rolodex" (that shows how long this has been the case).
Want to know why every company has a CRM? The CRM companies will tell you about all the integrations etc but the real reason is that they can keep their hands on all the contact info when the sales person leaves.
I suspect for a lot of engineers, the fact that it isn't about how hard you worked or how great a product you created, but what revenue income/it generated is tough. And don't meet those metrics and too bad is tough.
100% agree on that. I forgot in my original comment that I also agree it feels like bullshit. What I wrote above is what I have to constantly remind myself.
I also lack both skills and desire to sell. The job sounds like a nightmare to me. So I don't begrudge those that are good at it and earn those commissions. I envy the comp, but it'd be silly to be jealous when I wouldn't actually switch places with them. $150k is great money in its own right.