Why Commission-Only Sales Isn’t for the Faint of Heart
- websites302
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
(Disclaimer: This might become a rant. If it feels personal… well… maybe it is. Cover your belly button and let’s go.....)
The Rinse and Repeat Pity Parade
Once again, I’m talking to a salesperson who enthusiastically agreed to a commission-only comp plan — high on vision, big on dreams — and now, a few tough weeks in, they’re panicking.
“I need a safety net.”
“I don’t know if this is sustainable.”
“I’m just not sure this is for me…”
They’re ready to quit. Not for something better. Just… anything else. Anything that feels safe.
UGH. Not again.
Sales Is Hard. Welcome to Earth.
Let me say this plainly:
Sales is hard. Life is hard. And then you die.
You don’t get a trophy for choosing the hard road. You get a target on your back and a commission check if you hit it. That’s it.
And if you agreed to a commission-only comp plan? Guess what? That’s what you signed up for. You don’t get to renegotiate when it gets uncomfortable. That’s not how growth works.
The Unmatched Gift of Commission
But let’s not just wallow in the grit. Let’s talk about the gold.
Name any other position that:
Directly impacts the income of the entire company
Brings value to internal teammates and external customers simultaneously
Pays you in direct proportion to your actual results
Requires a daily walk of practical faith in a God who says, “I will provide — just not while you’re sitting on your hands.”
Commission is not a punishment. It’s a divine dare.
Sure, Some Systems Suck — But That’s Not the Whole Story
Let me be fair: Sometimes companies shoot themselves in the foot. They change targets mid-month. They offer no sales systems. They toss you a business card and say, “Good luck, Tiger.”
If that’s your reality — speak up. That’s not commission, that’s chaos.
But more often than not? That’s not the issue.
The issue is fear. Weakness. An internal war between comfort and calling.
What If God Actually Meant What He Promised?
Here’s the gut-check moment:
If you’re a believer, and you signed up for commission, you already have a safety net. But it’s not a guaranteed base salary — it’s a guaranteed Provider.
You were promised provision — not luxury, not ease — provision. Six days a week. Double portion once a week. But it’s placed just outside your comfort zone.
Which means you have two jobs:
Get up every day with a heart to serve
Let your behavior prove your trust
When People Ask, “How Do You Do It?”
Here’s your answer: “Let me tell you about my King. And my Provider.”
And then go close the deal.
Final Thoughts: This Ain’t for Everybody (And That’s the Point)
Commission-only sales will expose you. It’ll strip you of excuses. It’ll push you to the edge of your faith, your grit, and your willingness to serve.
That’s why it’s beautiful.
So, if you’re in? Really in?
Welcome. You’re in rare company.
If not? That’s okay too. But don’t pretend it’s the system when it’s really your stamina.