There’s an opportunity on my table: $50k base, $200k OTE. It sounds great until you remember Bowl performance can swing month to month. I’m used to earning a steady $100k+ base, so the thought of relying heavily on incentives makes me uneasy. I’m told the top performers are clearing $280k annually. Maybe they are. But is it smart to trade guaranteed income for potential upside?

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I try to think of everything in terms of what's guaranteed, not what's potential. If you can live on $50,000, go for it. But if you absolutely need more than that in order to live, it may not be the best fit. And I would caution you against ever going by what the "top performers" are getting, because that feels almost impossible to verify.

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That’s a grounded way to look at it. The guaranteed number is the only part you can truly plan around. And you’re right, “top performer” figures can be hard to validate.
What would you consider a reasonable way to pressure-test those OTE claims before making a move?

I wouldn’t… been there done that. If you plan to put in 80 hours a week and bet on yourself sure. Only you know your situation.

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I appreciate that perspective. Betting on yourself is one thing, but the lifestyle trade-off is real. Not everyone wants to sign up for 80-hour weeks just to stabilise their income. In your experience, what signals tell you early on whether the grind will actually translate into results?

Retained search firm?

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I would keep in mind that is a top performance. Noone wants to be the worst performer but when it comes to commissions a safe rule is to look at avg not top. Recruiting is very dependable on a lot of things you can't control so avg will always give you a realistic expectation until you see how things really are.

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Well said . Thank you for your insight

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