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This is THE place where people who sold books door-to-door through the Southwestern Advantage internship share their stories and lessons from the book field.

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Brad Ledwith is an 8-summer bookman and former DSL. He brings the FUN to the fundamentals of building a successful life. Brad currently runs his own financial wealth management firm and shares with Andres his WHY for the work he loves doing so much. Brad sold in the ‘90s and has some hilarious stories that will have you rolling. X/Twitter: @bradledwith IG: @noruleshottips FB: Ledwith Financial Wealth Management Book Recommendation: Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charlie Munger - https://www.amazon.com/Poor-Charlies-Almanack-Essential-Charles-ebook/dp/B0C5TCGPPS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1706298323&sr=1-1 If You Are Suddenly Single: A Helpful Guide for Widows On How to Handle Your Finances After the Death of Your Spouse by Brad Ledwith - https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Are-Suddenly-Single-ebook/dp/B093YQHK3Q Key moment and Chapters: 00:00:00 Start 00:04:00 Leaving Southwestern - Fire or Resign? 00:09:45 Starting a career with Edward Jones 00:12:40 The guilt of being done with work at 5 pm 00:16:10 Dot Com burst and Journaling through the ‘08 crash 00:23:50 Being a Financial Planner 00:28:39 BOOK: If You Are Suddenly Single 00:32:20 Common financial mistakes with people lose a spouse 00:39:38 Working with Clients in Retirement Phase 00:46:30 Writing a Cookbook during the pandemic 00:58:00 Origin of selling with Southwestern 01:11:30 Stories to be proud of 01:22:00 Rapid Fire 01:37:40 The Power of Positive Swear Words
Part 2 is HERE! Also, Bizzler registration is now open. Checkout our Instagram page and go to our pinned post for more information. The sign up link is below. https://travefy.com/f/6kw9rqeqbxgqra6uetet6blu7rwgs88a Part 2 00:00:00 Start 00:53:09 Ad Ends. 00:01:30 Recruiting 00:02:28 Selling during COVID 00:07:34 Working referrals 00:13:16 Hitting MORT Level 00:17:15 Does Territory Matter? 00:25:55 Logan Merret selling machine 00:44:30 Why did you leave? 00:58:38 Theory on why DSMs leave 01:02:40 Salary and Commission 01:12:10 The Grind 01:26:16 What do you do now? 01:50:00 Pony Tales
For the first time ever, we are splitting an episode into separate parts. With Lainey, we knew that our conversation was going to be filled with many great stories. Instead of cutting them short, we decided to eat the elephant of stories, one bite at a time. Enjoy Part 1 of this episode, we know you will have fun listening.  Also, Bizzler registration is now open. Checkout our Instagram page and go to our pinned post for more information. The sign up link is below.  ⁠https://travefy.com/f/6kw9rqeqbxgqra6uetet6blu7rwgs88a
Inspired by Lee's original "Dirt Pile" story, we decided to ask the crew about their toughest personal moments since leaving Southwestern. This will be a Part 1. Enjoy the stories from Pat, Andres, and Alecia. Lee's original story - https://youtu.be/sTQNQ7x5gIU?si=S4HjfdWmEjpoo6Zy About our panel: Alecia Huck is the founder of MAVERICK & Company, a management consultant, sought-after speaker, and author. She specializes in helping leadership teams of fast-growing companies build the critical skills, tools, systems and processes they need. She is known for working closely with leaders to customize solutions, protect existing culture, and fix what is broken without “going corporate.” Experienced in industries from construction to criminal justice, Alecia is proud to work with entrepreneurs so they can spend less time fighting fires and more time building what matters. Though he studied astronomy & meteorology as an undergrad, Lee received a Master’s degree in English from the University of Kansas. While he was there, Lee was a mild-mannered lecturer in the English department by day, and a member of a touring glam rock band by night. Complete with pyrotechnics and makeup. His band just finished their Final Reunion after playing 45 years together—see Facebook. As an undergrad, he traveled a thousand miles away from home and ran his own business selling books with Southwestern Advantage—which is a direct sales program. Lee was a top salesperson that summer, and over the next seven years, was a top experienced salesperson, recruiter, and manager every year. Southwestern promoted Lee to Director of Marketing & Sales Development, in charge of Southwestern’s training, and finally became the Director of Leadership Development worldwide. He helped train more than 100,000 college students there over the course of 36 years. In addition, Lee has taught at Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management and is currently a professor at two universities in Nashville, teaching business, literature, & communication courses. He also is a certified John Maxwell trainer and life coach.In his non-work life, Lee trains and competes with the U.S. Masters swim team. He is a deacon at his church, is a certified storm spotter, and also a face reader…. His wife is a physician at Vanderbilt, and they have three grown children who enjoy rock music and correcting people’s grammar. Patrick Roach started Southwestern Real Estate in 2007 at the request of the CEO of Southwestern/Great American Inc., Henry Bedford. When I started SWRE, I was brand new to the industry. I decided to learn the business by interviewing other Managing Brokers in my market to learn what it takes to be successful as a Realtor. Office to office, I found myself hearing some of the same principles, but as I looked around those offices I saw A LOT of unsuccessful Realtors hanging around the office. I knew then that if I was going to succeed, I would need to insulate myself from that type of mediocrity. I created a set of principles that would chart my course so that I would become excellent at the work of a Realtor, keep my clients’ interests first and foremost, and earn my future business by the referrals of happy clients. Today I am one of the top producing agents in the Chicagoland market and I’ve surrounded myself with others that are focused on becoming truly great at this career – I find that inspiring. Patrick has a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College in History/Social Science. He paid his way through college by selling educational products door-to-door in the Southwestern Company’s summer internship, which led to a 10-year career as a District Sales Manager helping to lead that program. He lives in Glen Ellyn with his wife Jenny and their three children. He is an avid music enthusiast and is happy to pass along his newest find.
Logan is fresh off the bookfield and rocking in his new sales position. We love an episode full of stories and discussions of the Southwestern summer experience that include some feedback. Listen in and tell us your opinions on our opinions. 00:00:00 Start 00:03:14 Intro 00:12:42 Covid Sales School 00:17:09 First Actual Door 00:18:51 First Customer 00:22:26 Rapid Fire 00:55:50 Why not last year 00:59:33 Tell us what you're up to. 01:10:26 Would you go back? 01:24:47 Pony Tales
We had to do an episode with spouses that didn’t sell. In this episode Brianna Gamboa (Andres Gamboa), John Kelly (Meredith Gardner), Sarah Greder (Grant Greder), Ben Taubensee (Naomi Kaufman), Jenny Roach (Patrick Roach), all joined us for a hilarious episode. We asked them the following questions. ENJOY.   What was your first thought when your spouse told you they sold books? How many book kids have stayed on your couch? Was it a cult? What Southwestern-isms do they still use/do? What are they like with their book friends vs regular friends? What do you think is the best habit your spouse gained by selling books?  What is the not-best (worst) habit your spouse gained by selling books?  Do you wish you would have sold? If your spouse wanted to go sell next summer, how would it go over in your relationship/family?
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