First, loved this piece and your effort to be balanced! Salesforce is a religion. People believe being part of it will make them more money--more sales to be precise.

Companies that only care about profits generally sell commodities, like sugar water. Saleseforce sells Salesforce. Because you'll end up at a company that will buy into some "sales" religion it is only the most profitable approach NOT to alienate you completely. They'll want you to come back ina way. The idea that there is meritocracy, as you can see from the comments, has us older people laughing.

The guy with a big book of business, who's on his 3rd marriage, has a restraining order, and everyone hates in the office--he's still working at Salesforce. But I don't think that's the meritocracy you're talking about.

Good luck in finding another job. The only meritocracy in sales is profits. My guess is you were a kind of eye candy. Lipstick on the harsher truth of what Salesforce REALLY sells. Maybe best not to think about this stuff though I'm glad you did! Great read! Sorry if I was a bit harsh there. You're a great writer! You should go back to journalism!