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.

Though she has been officially off of the Southwestern bookfield for nearly 5 years, Haley Price is still selling books.   Only now, she’s written and illustrated the books that she’s selling. 

While not writing, Haley works in global advertising sales for Microsoft in New York, NY.  Through her experience with Southwestern and beyond, she has learned the importance of having a positive attitude, working hard for what you want, and believing in your dreams. 

Haley continues to reference her days slinging books from house to house; and cannot wait until a book kid comes knocking on her door, “I’m going to give that kid the best pony story ever!”

Find out more about Haley’s book at http://www.todayisthebestdayofmylife.com/ or check out her blog at http://blog.todayisthebestdayofmylife.com/.

This fall, I had the pleasure of working “check out” for a couple of weeks.  Every year I really enjoy getting the chance to see the students as they finalize their Southwestern summer.  Every bookperson can recall how crazy big checkout weeks are and what a team effort is required to get all of the students back to campus on time.  Through all the craziness, book counts, and number crunching (which I must admit the nerd in me enjoys) is the unique opportunity of watching a hard working young person reap the rewards of their efforts.

Yes I am proud to work at a place where you are rewarded for your results and not just your intentions.  Can you imagine if we gave out awards in sales school for those who intended to work hard and have a great summer?  What sort of message would that send?  An environment where there is no politics or red tape involved in your success brings a certain amount of peace to each day.  If you work hard you will get results; if you get results you will be rewarded.  What a simple lesson in controllables for young people to understand.  Of course in most professional work places there is a little politics going on, however, I learned on the bookfield that good things come to those who work.

Setting goals and thinking big are part of the process, but it is the hard work and results that count.  As more and more schools turn to “no fail” policies, simple life lessons are being lost.  In my eight summers on the bookfield as a Southwestern salesman my results were not always extraordinary, but the lessons learned always were.

I am proud to be part of the 150 year Southwestern tradition that still believes that results should be rewarded and the lessons learned will always be the biggest reward.