The Skinny on Why I'm Quitting

San Diego SKO travelog #6
Intercontinental Hotel · Thu, 12 Feb 2026. 8am.

Yesterday I wrote a bit about why I am preparing to leave my job and am feeling mentally checked-out from it now. The way I described it was misleading, though. It was misleading because I described only one small piece of why I am leaving. The fact the CRO and CEO didn't select me for President's Club despite crucial contribution to my sales team's stellar performance is merely the shit fly buzzing around atop the shit sundae of why I am planning to drop my resignation notice on... well, next payday. 💩😨🤬

Let me repeat the numbers I shared yesterday. In the fiscal year just completed I supported 4 sales reps in achieving outstanding performance against quota:

• "Geordi", 175%
• "Henny", 200%
• "Callie", 237%
• "Maya", 274%

Just making 4 reps successful at 100% was an achievement for a person in my role because 1 SE supporting 4 reps is a tall order. And I didn't just make them successful; I helped them smash their quotas.

But do you know what my performance against my quota was? It's 85%.

Yes, 85%. Below target. 

I am below target because the company calculated my target against a hiring & revenue plan at the start of the year that never materialized. In fact, not only did they not hire, they cut staff. Multiple times.

I asked for my plan to be revised as it was out of alignment with the new reality selected by the company execs. They offered a small change 5 months ago: they'd guarantee me 100% payout.

That was a nice gesture, and I appreciated it. But it was too little. When I could see that my reps were all headed for 150% by the end of the year I wanted more than 100% of my target commission.

I asked the company in November to revise my compensation plan to align with the success I was helping deliver. They refused.

I asked them again, after a change in leadership, two weeks ago. This time they came through with another offer, but again it was small. They're putting me at about 112%. You might wonder, "What are you whining about, CW? You're being paid over your target now?" Yes, but consider the success I delivered. My team has achievements— that they are getting paid on— like 175%, 200%, 237%, and 274%. Their boss, my boss, is at 171% of his quota. I should be getting paid on a figure like 171%, not 112%.

THAT is why I am leaving. The Club snub was just the final insult to injury.