Southwestern Company‘s Great Recruiters Seminar 2011 was highlighted by several alumni guest appearances.  Our new product Dream Team provided a lot of knowledge and excitement for the attendees. The new online product, named Southwestern Advantage, consists of several elements, each under the development of a separate expert.

Ethan Shen (4 summer bookperson), our Technology Consultant & Project Manager, promoted the new aspects and features of Advantage online.  Its mission: 1) to help young people realize their academic and personal potential and 2) to help Southwestern Company managers double their profits.

David Kong (also a 4 summer bookperson), another of the product’s key developers, walked the students through an overview of how Advantage would integrate and enhance the books.  David’s specialty is SEO and is the creator of both the Redline and FORCE websites.

Haley Price (3 summers) not only is developing a children’s site—complete with videos, blogs and articles to help young students get better at life—but she also delivered an energetic speech Thursday evening to all the attendees.  Haley worked previously at Microsoft and we are excited to have her back at Southwestern Company.

Kate (Walker) Raidt (10 summer book veteran) went on to describe her vision of a parent component to the new online product, which would provide advice on a range of parenting topics.  Her site would also feature a Mom of the Month—someone who is doing an outstanding job with her kids!  Kate also authored the book, The Million Dollar Parent.

If there weren’t enough alumni energy already, GRS culminated with an inspirational talk by former head of the Elite Eagle organization, JT Olson.  JT shared how his training and background helped him with his new project, the Both Hands Foundation.  Both Hands is a non-profit ministry that serves widows in the community and helps raise funds for families who would like to adopt.  JT stressed making a difference and how student managers could have an impact on someone else’s life through their involvement with Southwestern Company.

The two summers before I sold books with Southwestern Company I helped run a grant funded program in small Nebraska towns.  Basically, we brought educational and fun activities to towns with less than 500 people.  As you might imagine, there are not many constructive summer activities for kids in small towns.  It was a great experience!

The service aspect of working with Southwestern Company was also one of the main engaging advantages that attracted me to selling books.  Whether or not the people I talked with bought, I always knew I was doing a good thing just talking with a family about the importance of education.  The lessons of taking the focus off yourself and serving others radiates through many of our SW alumni.

Five year Southwestern Company alum Ella (King) Herlihy was a Top First Year, a Wall of Greats Winner and is now married to one of the top all-time booksellers in our history, Steve Herlihy who sold for nine summers.  Steve and Ella are great at giving back to Southwestern Company by housing students, hosting SW gatherings and speaking at Sunday meetings.  They have five children (or “booklets” if you’d like to call them that) and live in Atlanta.  

When reflecting on her Southwestern experience Ella states, “Those principles we learned selling books DO help us in our daily lives – it is not a myth – even at age 41 and 46, we still have to make a conscious decision to get up with a great attitude and an “I Love My Job” mentality.  Being a homeschooling mom to five children under age 11 (yes, we already have ALL of the books) requires more patience than is humanly possible and some major attitude management.  We explain to our children over and over again ‘your sister did not MAKE you do that – you and you alone are in control of your attitude.’  We also have been both showing them and telling them that ‘anything worth having is worth working hard for.’  They don’t get it so much yet, but just you wait until they hit the bookfield!  Only 7 more years until Massie is old enough!”

Ella and Steve are involved with a wonderful ministry that brings hope and healing to families with a child stricken with cancer.  Blue Skies, is a a ministry that takes families who are facing life-threatening childhood illnesses for a week-long beach retreat in Florida.  It is free for the families who have a child being treated and the volunteers raise support to fund the retreats.

Blue Skies is in the running for a $250,000 grant from the Pepsi Challenge.  If Blue Skies receives the most votes in December, they will be able to use the $250,000 to take 120 families to the beach for a week of rest and recuperation and reconnecting with one another while they are in the midst of fighting for their child’s life.  You can vote daily in December and help Blue Skies go from #42 to #1 and put Pepsi’s grant to great use.  Vote at www.refresheverything.com/whereskiesareblue.

I had spent my two previous summers working with a grant funded program called Friend to Friend, bringing educational programs to children in small towns during the summer. Nebraska is full of towns of 300 or less people, and there really isn’t much for kids to do during the summer there. So I spent my time starting up reading programs and bringing in speakers to teach everything from exercise to making rope. I didn’t make much money during those summers, but I did make a difference, and to me, that truly mattered.

My original plan for the summer was to take summer classes. Summer classes were not going to give me an opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives. I made the decision to sell that summer to differentiate myself and to make a difference in the lives of the people I would meet. Staying service-minded saved my attitude many a day on the bookfield when sales were slow. I discovered I was making an impact even when people weren’t buying. Sometimes it was just bringing a smile to someone who needed one, reminding young parents to read to their children, or just sitting down with a family to talk about the importance of education.

The confidence I gained that summer on the bookfield came not only from the challenges I overcame, but from knowing that I could make a difference. Now, as the alumni person at Southwestern, I have the rare opportunity to see how our alumni apply the principles they learned on the bookfield to the rest of their lives. Old habits come back way to easily; it is a challenge to not be just a 90 day wonder.

JT Olson is a great example of Southwestern alumni making a difference. Recently, JT founded the Both Hands Foundation. Both Hands is a non profit organization with a two-fold mission. They serve widows in a very practical way in their communities while raising money to help willing families adopt. Both Hands recently completed their 1st Annual Big Build fundraiser.

The Both Hands Big Build team worked on Debbie Jackson’s home while raising money for orphans. Debbie lost her husband to a heart attack on Memorial Day, 2004. She has done a terrific job of raising three kids on her own, however, there are a few things around her home that needed addressing. Check out the video below of the service done during the Both Hands Big Build. To learn more about JT and Both Hands check out his alumni spotlight at www.wesoldbooks.com/spotlight-JTOlson.

Larry was a phenomenal bookman.  One week on the bookfield, he made 180 demonstrations and sold 126 customers.  A great recruiter, and with the mentorship of Dr. Jim Samuel and others, he grew a great sales organization.  He eventually became Director of Sales and head of the Home Learning Division.  His gift with the spoken word was extraordinary, and thousands of students enjoyed and were inspired by the stories he shared in Sales School.  He shaped countless lives.

Our hearts go out to his family.

There is a Nashville memorial service set for Friday, Dec. 18 at Belmont Church, with receiving of friends from 10-12:30 and a service at 1:00.  Larry’s family ”would love to see a big turnout from all the SW people who knew and loved him”.  The Belmont Church is located at 68 Music Square East Nashville TN.  (615-256-2123)

We also invite you to share your memories of Larry below.